CEO holds conference with electoral officers on Election Laws

Dimapur, July 27 (EMN): Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), V Shashank Shekhar, held a video conference with all the deputy commissioners/ ADC and district election officers (DEO), electoral registration officers (ERO), assistant election officers (AEO) and technical persons on amendment of Forms and IT applications on July 27.

An update from the Election department stated that the members have discussed on the important aspects of Election Laws (Amendment) Act, 2021 enacted by Parliament, which amended the Representation of People Act, 1950, and Representation of People Act, 1951.

The amendments in the said Acts broadly covered (i) electoral registration officer may require Aadhar number for electoral registration/authentication purpose, (ii) four qualifying dates in a year, (iii) gender neutral provision for service and special electors, and (iv) power to acquire premises for the purpose of conduct of elections.

It was discussed that furnishing of Aadhar number would be purely voluntary. Those who do not have Aadhar number may submit a copy of any of the eleven documents prescribed by the Commission. The exercise would commence with effect from August 1, 2022, till April 1, 2023. No entry in the electoral roll would be deleted on the ground of inability on the part of any existing elector to furnish/ intimate Aadhar number. The purpose of obtaining Aadhar number was for authentication of electors’ entries in electoral roll and extending electoral services to them in the future. Strict measures are in place for ensuring security and safe custody of such data collected.

It was also highlighted that now there would be four qualifying dates in a year namely January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1. Applicants could file their advance claims for inclusion in the electoral roll during annual summary revision.

Earlier, only those who completed 18 years of age by January 1 of the year could get themselves enrolled. After coming of four qualifying dates in existence, all who are completing 18 years of age on any of the qualifying date of the year could get themselves enrolled after the relevant qualifying date.

The second session of the meeting covered legal aspects of the amended/ modified Forms and various IT applications such as ERONET, Garuda, NVSP, VHA and voter portal, which was taken by AEO Kohima, R Toshimeren; AEO (MIS) CEO’s office, Ketousieu Khruomo; and project manager (IT), Iliho.

Report stated that the joint CEOs namely Awa Lorin and Sharon Longchari also attended the video conference.