Booth Level Officers (BLOs)

Why in News?

Concerns have been raised that several BLO deaths have been reported from the states undergoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

• Definition – A BLO is a government or semi-government official appointed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to act as the custodian of the electoral roll at the polling booth level.
• Primary Role – They serve as the link between voters and the election machinery, ensuring that the electoral roll is accurate and updated.
• Appointment – BLOs are usually drawn from local institutions such as schools, government offices, or other public sector organizations.
• Teachers, Anganwadi workers, Panchayat Secretary, Village Level Workers, Electricity Bill Readers, etc, are mainly appointed as BLOs.
• BLOs are not full-time electoral officials.
• Section 13B of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 paved the way for the introduction of appointing a BLO for the 1^st time in August 2006.
• Coordination - Works under
  • Electoral Registration Officer (ERO)
  • Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO)
  • Coordinates with Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of political parties
• Roles and duties of BLOs
• Electoral Roll Management – They verify voter details at the booth level and distribute and collect forms for voter registration, corrections, and deletions.
  • Conduct door-to-door verification to prevent duplication or bogus entries.
• Voter Facilitation – They help citizens understand the registration process, provide information about polling stations, and voting procedures.
  • Assist vulnerable groups (elderly, differently-abled) in accessing electoral services.
• Informing eligible voters for Postal Ballot – Senior citizens above 85 years & PwDs with benchmark certificate - about availing Home Voting Facility and Postal Ballot Facility.
• Election Duties – They ensure smooth conduct of elections at the booth and act as the point of contact for voters regarding electoral queries and report irregularities or issues to higher election authorities.
• Promote use of EC’s IT applications – Responsible for promoting the applications launched by ECI to facilitate voting and ensure an accurate electoral roll.
  • Popular voter-oriented apps like Voter Helpline App, eVIGIL app, Know Your Candidate app, and Saksham-ECI.

Reference

Indian Express | Booth Level Officers (BLO)