Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov. 20: Following the directives of the Election Commission of India, the Annual Summary Revision (ASR) of the electoral roll has officially commenced from October 20, 2024. This critical initiative seeks to ensure the accuracy, inclusivity, and comprehensiveness of the electoral roll.
To foster stakeholder participation, the Deputy Commissioner (South Andaman)/District Election Officer (South Andaman), along with the Electoral Roll Observer, convened a meeting with representatives of political parties. During the meeting, the DC/DEO briefed attendees on the schedule and significance of the claims and objections period under SSR-2025.
The claims and objections process, running from October 29, 2024, to November 28, 2024, is pivotal for refining the voter list. The DC/DEO emphasized the active role of political parties during this period, particularly in verifying the accuracy of the voter roll in collaboration with Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Stakeholders were guided to focus on:
-Identifying new eligible voters, including those who have attained the qualifying age as of January 1, 2025.
-Prospective electors for future qualifying dates (April 1, 2025; July 1, 2025; October 1, 2025)
-Reporting multiple entries, deceased electors, and those who have permanently shifted
-Necessary corrections to electoral roll entries.
As part of the Annual Summary Revision (ASR) of the electoral roll for SSR-2025, the integrated draft electoral roll was published on October 29, 2024. The Deputy Commissioner (South Andaman)/District Election Officer (South Andaman) has appealed to the public to actively participate in this crucial democratic exercise by submitting claims and objections during the designated period from October 29, 2024, to November 28, 2024. The finalized electoral roll is scheduled for publication on January 6, 2025.
To facilitate public engagement, special camps were held on November 9 and 10, 2024 (Saturday and Sunday). Additional camps are scheduled for 23rd November 2024 and 24th November 2024, at all polling stations across the region. These camps provide a platform for citizens to verify their entries, enroll new voters, and make necessary corrections to the electoral roll.
The Electoral Roll Observer proposed a targeted drive for the enrollment of new voters in colleges and senior secondary schools. Recognizing the importance of accurate voter lists, he emphasized the critical role of political parties in ensuring comprehensive addition, deletion, and correction of entries. Political parties were urged to appoint Booth Level Agents (BLAs) at all polling stations within the Andaman & Nicobar Islands Parliamentary Constituency to aid this process.
The Deputy Commissioner (SA)/District Election Officer (SA) further appealed to all residents to cooperate with their local Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Residents are encouraged to promptly verify their electoral roll details, submit corrections if required, and ensure their mobile numbers are updated. Additionally, citizens can link their Aadhaar information through their BLOs to enhance the accuracy and integrity of the voter list.
Active participation from all stakeholders—citizens, political parties, and institutions—will ensure a smooth and transparent electoral process, reinforcing democratic values and encouraging wider voter engagement.