Pune: For many senior citizens in Pune, Election Commission of India’s decision to extend the SIR exercise in Maharashtra till Aug 17 is a relief. As BLOs intensify door-to-door visits, election officials are urging elderly voters to use the book-a-call facility, provide their correct address and schedule a home visit.A large number of voters, particularly senior citizens, were marked ‘absent’ as the addresses recorded in the electoral roll were incomplete, outdated or lacked sufficient details for BLOs to locate them.“Senior citizens, persons with disabilities and those unavailable during the first round of visits can benefit. If people find their names in the ‘absent voters’ list on the Pune collectorate’s website, they should book a call and provide their correct address. BLO will locate the residence quickly and complete the verification,” a senior election official said.Officials clarified that the home-visit facility is available only if the voter resides in the jurisdiction of the allotted BLO. Those who have shifted outside the polling area will have to visit the designated polling station and complete the process in person.Election activist Rohan Desai said many elderly voters had been waiting for BLOs to visit them. “Even after special camps were organised, many still do not know how to locate or contact their BLO. There is also considerable confusion between the Census enumeration and the SIR enumeration,” he said.Desai said the implementation lacked consistency. “BLOs are following different procedures. Some are accepting forms at camps, some visit homes, while others ask voters to come to the polling station. This has created confusion.”Awareness also differed sharply across localities. “Residents in slum areas are generally better informed because of repeated field visits and local outreach. In apartment complexes, many senior citizens are unaware of the ‘Book a Call’ facility or how to identify their BLO. The extension should be used to run a focused awareness campaign through housing societies and resident welfare associations,” Desai said.Election officials said BLOs would continue door-to-door visits while attending to online requests until Aug 17. “The ‘Book a Call’ facility has been created to ensure that elderly and vulnerable voters are not left out simply because a BLO could not locate their address during the initial visit. We encourage more senior citizens to use it,” an official said.________________________________BOX | How to book a BLO home visitVisit voters.eci.gov.in and log inClick on ‘Book a Call’Enter your complete residential address and mobile number.Submit the requestNext Step I The allotted BLO will visit your residence with the enumeration formThe facility is available only if the voter resides within the jurisdiction of the allotted BLOThose who have live outside the BLO’s area must visit the designated polling station to complete the verification72,860 voters registered requests through the facility34,182 have been attended to by the BLOs
