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Chennai, Nov 12 (IANS) As the December 4 deadline approaches, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is struggling to collect filled forms for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list.
Despite distributing about 41 per cent of the forms across the city, the civic body has received only a few responses, as residents are unsure about how to complete certain sections.
The main reason for the delay is confusion over the need to provide family details from the 2005 voter list. Many residents say they are unaware of the information about the role of their parents or relatives and fear that their forms may get rejected due to errors.
As a result, thousands of voters are holding documents waiting for clear guidance from election officials. Booth level officers (BLOs) in many areas have reported worryingly poor response rates.
A BLO in Royapuram said that out of 550 forms distributed, only 10 have been returned so far. Similarly, in Chepauk, another BLO reported zero returns out of 1,111 forms submitted. According to officials, most residents accept the forms but postpone filling them due to confusion over the required details.
To counter the slow progress, BLOs have intensified door-to-door visits and are organizing support camps to guide residents. However, officials say many citizens are still not ready and often ask them to return later.
Officials have then clarified that voters need not worry if they are unable to remember or locate the 2005 roll details – they can submit the form even with incomplete family information.
The Election Commission has also advised that individuals can verify their 2005 voter list details on the ECI website.
In cases where information is missing, citizens can attach any one of the ten approved documents issued by the government as proof of identity and residence. As the submission deadline approaches, officials fear that the last-minute rush could overwhelm the system and leave little time to correct errors.
With several lakh forms still pending, the BLO warned that unresolved confusion could impact voter enrollment in many constituencies unless clear instructions reach the public immediately.
–IANS
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