In most parts of West Bengal, enumeration forms have already been submitted. According to data from the CEO, West Bengal, as of Sunday, 7.64 crore forms have been distributed out of 7.66 crore electors, which is about 99.75 per cent. Digitisation of the forms is also underway, with around 3.77 crore EF digitised (49.26 per cent).
While the first concern — how to fill the form — has largely been addressed, many electors are now worried about whether they will be called for a hearing, what documents they may need, and whether there is any reason to panic.
Notices, hearings and verification are typically conducted after publication of the draft rolls and during the Claims and Objections period. The hearing will be conducted by the ERO or AERO of your Assembly constituency. After the hearing, they will decide on inclusion or exclusion from the final electoral roll.
Why you might be summoned for a hearing, and what to do
If the ERO or Assistant ERO finds an objection or discrepancy in your application, they may require a hearing to resolve it. The most common reason is when your name or your parent’s/grandparent’s name cannot be matched or linked with the last intensive revision conducted in the 2002 electoral roll.
If the system cannot link your current details to the 2002 roll, the ERO/AERO will issue a formal notice asking you to appear for a hearing and verification, and to produce supporting documents.
Hearings also apply to other claims and objections, including these applications:
Form 6: Inclusion of name (new voters)
Form 7: Objection to inclusion (deletion)
Form 8: Correction of entries or shifting of residence
Read the notice for the hearing carefully for the date, time and venue — usually the ERO/AERO office — and the specific documents you must bring.
What to bring to the hearing
If you receive a notice, you must bring documents that support your claim as an eligible voter and Indian citizen. For cases where your name could not be matched with the 2002 roll, you must produce citizenship credentials from the list of “Indicative Documents” specified by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
You should carry originals and photocopies of relevant documents. Depending on what the notice asks for, these may include, but are not limited to: