Assam State Election Commission Releases Draft Voter's List for Panchayat Polls

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• Aug 26, 2023 | Dhupali Das

The Assam State Election Commission has taken a significant step towards the forthcoming panchayat elections by publishing the...

Digital Desk: The Assam State Election Commission has taken a significant step towards the forthcoming panchayat elections by publishing the draft photo of the electoral rolls. With a massive count of 1,76,44,009 crore registered voters, this inclusive list encompasses over 89 lakh male voters and 87 lakh female voters from across the 40 districts and subdivisions of the state.

The anticipated panchayat elections are slated to transpire by the end of this year, allowing voters to exercise their democratic right in selecting local representatives for governance.

In an official press statement, the Assam State Election Commission elaborated on the meticulous process employed in preparing these electoral rolls. "The Panchayat electoral rolls are prepared by extracting the relevant segment from the corresponding Legislative Assembly electoral rolls, as mandated by the Assam Panchayat (Constitution) Rules, 1995. The cutoff date for eligibility has been stipulated as January 1, 2023, by the Assam State Election Commission."

The scope of the draft photo electoral rolls encompasses 40 districts and Subdivisions of the state, with Sixth Schedule areas and municipal regions being excluded from this release.

For the impending panchayat elections, Assam hosts a diverse array of electoral components. The state boasts 420 Zila Parishad Constituencies, 185 Anchalik Panchayats, 2195 Gram Panchayats, and an extensive network of 21936 wards and 23684 polling stations spread across its districts and Subdivisions.

Innovatively embracing technology, the Assam State Election Commission has employed an online electoral roll management system (OERMS) designed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) to compile the panchayat rolls digitally. The OERMS is a web-based application software that has been intricately customized to harmonize with the intricacies of panchayat electoral rolls.

This paradigm shift towards digital electoral rolls is touted to accentuate transparency, accessibility, and accuracy in the election process. Notably, this marks the inaugural implementation of a digital electoral roll system specifically tailored for panchayat elections in Assam.

As the draft photo electoral rolls are published, citizens are encouraged to review the lists for any discrepancies or inaccuracies and to ensure that their details are correctly represented. This proactive approach to voter registration and transparency underscores the state's commitment to conducting fair and representative elections.

With the groundwork firmly laid by the Assam State Election Commission, the stage is set for a comprehensive and inclusive democratic process in the upcoming panchayat elections. As the end of the year approaches, citizens eagerly anticipate the opportunity to engage in shaping their local governance through their votes.