Thiruvananthapuram: Voters can now verify the voters’ lists prepared for the Parliament and Assembly elections by the Central Election Commission (CEC) and for local body polls by the State Election Commission (SEC) to check for duplication of their votes, said authorities. The announcement comes amid the recent discussions over duplicate or double votes for political leaders and representatives.

Steps to identify duplicate votes in LS electoral roll
Voters can check their names in the list either through the Central Election Commission’s portal (voters.eci.gov.in/signup) or via the Voter Helpline app. This can be done directly by voters or with the assistance of Booth Level Officers (BLOs).

To access the portal or app, voters can log in using a One-Time Password (OTP). Names can be checked using the Elector's Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number. If a voter holds another EPIC card and, after shifting residence, has the name included in the voters’ list at the new location, it is possible that their name may still appear in the list at the previous address.

Voters can select the polling booth at the old location and download the voters’ list to verify their entries. BLOs or the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of the previous polling station can also provide assistance. Names and contact numbers of BLOs and EROs are available in the ‘Find BLO’ section of both the portal and the app.

Votes listed in multiple locations can be removed by submitting Form 7 through the portal or app. Click on ‘Deletion’ under the voter registration section and submit the details. Alternatively, voters can submit an affidavit or application directly to the concerned BLO.

Spotting duplicate votes in local body elections
In case of duplicate entries in the voters’ list for local body elections, voters can log on to the State Election Commission’s portal (www.sec.kerala.gov.in), navigate to the ‘Voter Services’ section and search using the election ID card number or the voter’s name (in English or Malayalam). The search can be refined by state, local body and polling booth.

Creating a user ID on the portal using the OTP received on a registered phone number can make this process more efficient. Voter lists can also be checked based on polling booths, which is the most reliable method to identify entries retained at the previous location.

Booths for local body elections are different from those set by the CEC. Since the State Election Commission has no Booth Level Officers, verification can also be done through the relevant panchayat or municipal office.

If duplicate votes are identified, they should be deleted by submitting Form 5. This facility was available until August 12. Or else, the secretary of the local body concerned can also remove duplicates if notified in writing.

Voters’ list update;  No holiday for offices for 15 days
Offices of all grama panchayats, municipalities, and corporations will remain open for the next 15 days, regardless of holidays, the State Election Commission has ordered. This directive comes in view of the ongoing updation of the voters’ list for upcoming local body polls. The final voters’ list is scheduled to be published by August 30, following verification of applications and complaints by EROs.