Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, June 29

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday described Booth Level Officers (BLOs) as the backbone of India’s electoral machinery, saying the credibility of the country’s democratic process begins with accurate electoral rolls and dedicated grassroots functionaries.

Addressing an interaction with Booth Level Officers, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) and other election officials at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, Kumar stressed the importance of maintaining transparent and error-free electoral rolls while ensuring every eligible citizen can participate in the electoral process.

The interaction formed part of the Chief Election Commissioner’s three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to review electoral preparedness and engage with election officials and stakeholders across J&K.

“BLOs truly are the backbone of our electoral process. The credibility of elections begins with a robust, accurate and transparent electoral roll,” Kumar said.

He commended the role of BLOs as the Election Commission’s first point of contact with voters, saying their field-level engagement was critical in ensuring that every eligible citizen was enrolled and electoral services reached people efficiently.

The Chief Election Commissioner urged officials to continue updating and verifying electoral rolls on a regular basis to preserve their accuracy and integrity.

He also highlighted the growing role of technology in election management, saying digital platforms such as ERO Net had significantly improved the efficiency, transparency and accessibility of electoral roll management.

Calling on election officials to discharge their responsibilities with impartiality and professionalism, Kumar advised them to remain guided by facts and official procedures rather than misinformation capable of creating confusion among voters.

He said voter awareness, informed participation and public confidence remained fundamental to the strength of India’s democratic institutions.

Referring to India’s electoral framework, Kumar said every stage of the election process – from the preparation of electoral rolls to polling and counting of votes—was open to scrutiny by political parties and candidates, reinforcing transparency and public trust.

He also encouraged Booth Level Officers to maintain regular engagement with citizens, respond promptly to voter concerns, and continue strengthening public confidence in the electoral process.

Chief Electoral Officer Jammu and Kashmir Sanjeev Verma, District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner Budgam Athar Amir Khan, senior officers of the district administration and officials of the Election Department were present during the interaction.