Amid ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, the office of the state’s Chief Electoral Officer has issued 13-point guidelines for the voters of the state while submitting the SIR form. Putting a photo on the SIR form is optional, the commission said. Booth level officers will have to go door to door and take a photo while collecting the forms, as instructed by the Election Commission.

1.The applicant must give his full signature or thumbprint in the SIR form which is equipped with a unique QR code.

2.If any wrong information is given, the applicant must cross it out with a single line and write the correct information in the blank space on the same line.

3.In the case of migrant workers or others, if the applicant is unable to sign himself, then any voter of that family, whose name is included in the voter list, can sign on behalf of the applicant. In that case, the full name of the signatory and his relationship with the applicant must be clearly mentioned.

4.Two copies of the SIR form shall be filled. The concerned BLO (Booth Level Officer) shall receive one completed and signed copy and the other copy duly acknowledged by the BLO shall be kept with the applicant or his family members. The BLO shall visit door to door and take the photograph of the voters on the BLO app.

5.Affixing of photograph in the SIR form is optional. Any current photograph of any size which fits properly in the space provided for this purpose may be affixed.

6.The applicant or the persons signing on behalf of the applicant will have to provide correct information in the SIR form.

7.In the case of deceased voters, permanently relocated voters, or voters whose names are included elsewhere than in the present section (i.e. duplicate voters), the applicant or the persons signing on behalf of the applicant shall provide correct information to the BLOs.

8.BLAs (Booth Level Agents) who are submitting 50 SIR forms daily to BLOs on behalf of the applicants shall sign a declaration on a plain paper stating that the all information provided in the SIR form is true and has been signed in their presence by the voters. The declaration shall include the phone number, address, part number and serial number of the concerned BLA.

9.If any person misuses the SIR form and gives any wrong information in the case of death, permanent transfer or duplicate voter, such misconduct shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

10.The BLOs shall verify and sign the information given in the SIR form submitted by the applicant or his family member. Any false verification by the BLOs shall be punishable under the penal provisions of Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

11.It is to be informed that since the SIR forms are being digitised, all the information, documents, signatures, names and other details will be preserved in digital form for record, which should be sufficient to trace any false information, declaration etc.

12.A person whose name is in the electoral roll as on 25/10/28 but has not yet received the census form can call on toll free number 1950, and 033-2231-0850 (during office hours, 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM). Or, he can send a WhatsApp message (9830078250) or email (ceo-election-wb@nic.in) mentioning the name, assembly constituency name, part number and serial number.

13.In addition to the help of BLO, Supervisor, AERO, ERO, and DEO, the general public can also call on the following numbers for assistance or assistance in filling the SIR form:

Toll-free: 1950, and

033-2231-0850

What is Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950?

The Representation of the People Act, 1950 is an Indian law that provides for the allocation of seats in the House of the People and State Legislative Assemblies and the delimitation of constituencies for the purpose of elections. It also covers the qualifications of voters, the preparation and correction of electoral rolls, and the appointment of officials like Chief Electoral Officers and District Election Officers. This act is foundational to the election process in India.

Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, deals with the breach of official duty in connection with the preparation, revision, and correction of electoral rolls. It establishes that punishment, including imprisonment and/or a fine, can be imposed on electoral officials who fail to perform their duties related to electoral rolls correctly. This offense is only prosecuted upon a complaint filed by the Election Commission or the Chief Electoral Officer of the state.

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