Odisha Panchayat Polls: Final Voters’ List By Dec 14; Know The Process & How To Raise Objection

Bhubaneswar: The complete voters’ list for the Panchayat elections, slated for early next year, will be published before December 14, informed State Election Commissioner (SEC) Aditya Prasad Padhi on Monday.

“Those who have attained the age of 18 years as on November 1, 2021, would be included in voters’ list. The polls will be held before completion of the term of office of panchayat in March 2022,” he said.

Padhi said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) had declared the assembly-wise voters’ list on January 1. “It will be split up ward-wise and the preliminary list will be displayed at the gram panchayat headquarters from November 16 to 23. People seeking any amendments can submit an application through Form 16 and Form 17 with the Panchayat Extension Officer, in-charge Electoral Registration Officer, by November 23,” he said.

The Electoral Registration Officer will go through the claims and take a decision by November 24 or 25, the SEC said.

People, who are not satisfied with the draft voters’ list, can file an objection near the Block Development Officer (BDO), who is the Appellate Authority, by November 29 and 30.

The BDO will conduct a hearing by December 1 or 2. The final voters’ list will be prepared by December 4 and sent to the State Election Commission by December 6. The Commission will publish it by December 14, he added.

The Electors Photo Identification Card (EPIC) ID number of the voters will be added along with their names to the list, Padhi had said earlier.