Bhatkal: House-to-house voter verification under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls will begin in Bhatkal on June 30 and continue until July 29, with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) visiting households to collect and verify voter information. To assist residents during the exercise, local social organisation Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem has intensified its voter awareness efforts by operating helpline desks and providing guidance on the verification process.
Ahead of the exercise, the Bhatkal Tahsildar's office has issued a set of guidelines for voters. According to the advisory, the spelling of a voter's name on the Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) should match the details recorded in the Aadhaar card. The advisory further states that details from the 2002 electoral roll will serve as an important reference during the verification process.
The advisory said BLOs will visit each household up to three times during the verification period. Residents have been urged to ensure that at least one family member is available during these visits so that the verification process can be completed smoothly.
During the visits, BLOs will distribute forms to individual voters. Each voter will be required to provide details of their own or their parents' or grandparents' entries in the 2002 electoral roll, including the booth number, serial number, name, and the name of the father or husband as recorded in the list.
Voters will receive two copies of the form. After completing them, one copy must be submitted to the BLO, while the second copy should be retained by the voter after obtaining the BLO's acknowledgement and signature. Residents have also been advised to keep a recent colour photograph ready.
The advisory further stated that voters whose current residential address differs from the address mentioned on their voter identity card should submit a request for correction through their respective BLOs.
To assist residents in complying with the requirements of the revision exercise, Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem has been operating a dedicated helpline desk for several months at its office in Siddique Street. The desk provides information, documentation support, and guidance on voter-related procedures.
As part of its outreach efforts, the organisation recently conducted a special assistance camp at the Nawayath Colony Rabita Hall, where hundreds of residents received support related to voter enrolment, electoral roll verification, and documentation.
Mubasshir Hussain Hallare, an active member of the Tanzeem and General Secretary of the Bhatkal Muslim Youth Federation, said another helpline desk would be opened within the next few days at Bundar Road, Fifth Cross, to make assistance more accessible to the public. He added that similar help desks are also planned in other localities through the joint efforts of the Tanzeem and the Federation.
Hallare said the 2002 electoral roll would serve as a key reference document for the SIR mapping process. However, he urged residents not to panic if they are unable to locate their own names or those of their family members in the 2002 records, adding that such individuals can approach the Tanzeem office or the nearest helpline desk for assistance in obtaining the required information and completing the necessary formalities.