The Election Commission of India (ECI) has stated that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will face suspension if found guilty of misconduct during electoral roll preparation. This directive underscores the ECI's commitment to maintaining the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring fair and accurate voter lists.

BLOs are crucial in the electoral process, as they are responsible for verifying voter information, adding new voters, and removing ineligible voters from the electoral rolls. They serve as the primary point of contact between the ECI and the public at the grassroots level. Any misconduct on their part can have a detrimental impact on the accuracy and fairness of elections.

The ECI's warning comes in the wake of several instances of alleged malpractices during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. In one case in Baruipur East, South 24 Parganas, a BLO who had already been removed from duty allegedly continued to upload enumeration forms. The ECI issued show-cause notices to the ERO, AERO, two BLOs, and the BLO directly involved in the incident. The commission has also initiated corrective measures and tightened its oversight during the ongoing voter list revision in West Bengal.

In another instance, the ECI suspended four officials of the State Electoral Office of West Bengal for their failure in supervising election-related work. These officers were found to have wrongfully added names to the electoral rolls and violated data security protocols by sharing their login credentials with unauthorized persons. The ECI has directed that FIRs be registered against them for potential criminal misconduct and has initiated disciplinary proceedings.

The ECI has appointed senior IAS officers as Special Roll Observers across five divisions to ensure no eligible voter is excluded, prevent the inclusion of ineligible individuals, and maintain strict vigilance over every phase of the revision process.

These actions by the ECI demonstrate its zero-tolerance policy towards any form of electoral malpractice. The suspension of BLOs found guilty of misconduct sends a strong message that the ECI is committed to upholding the integrity of the electoral process.