**BMC Launches Citywide Voter Verification Drive Amid Objections**
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated a comprehensive door-to-door verification campaign across the city in response to a significant number of objections regarding the draft voter list. Concerns have primarily centered around duplicate registrations and voters being assigned to incorrect wards. To facilitate this process, the BMC has established voter assistance centers at its headquarters and in all 24 ward offices, where residents can obtain information, submit objections, and receive guidance on correction procedures.
Two major issues have come to light during this verification process. The first is the widespread duplication of voter names. Initial estimates indicated that over 1.1 million voters from Mumbai’s electorate of 10.3 million might have duplicate entries. However, recent updates reveal that approximately 433,000 voter names have been duplicated, with many instances occurring more than once, necessitating urgent verification. Lists of suspected duplicates have been distributed to all ward offices, where officials are meticulously cross-referencing each case against physical records, including the voter’s name, age, gender, and photograph.
In the H-West ward alone, officials have identified 27,000 potential duplicate registrations. Dinesh Pallewad, Assistant Commissioner of H-West ward, stated, “We have established a help desk on the ground floor. Our team is reviewing every duplicate flagged in the software. If the name, age, gender, and photo match, we will visit the voter to obtain Declaration A, confirming their polling booth for election day. It’s important to note that many entries that appear as duplicates may actually belong to different individuals.”
The second significant issue involves voters being incorrectly assigned to wards. This concern has been strongly voiced by opposition parties during discussions with the State Election Commission. According to the Commission’s directives, any voter identified as being misallocated must be reassigned to the correct ward. To address this, the BMC has introduced Form A for voters who find themselves listed in the wrong ward and Form B for third parties wishing to report such discrepancies. Upon receiving an objection, a team of BMC officials will conduct on-site verification and compile a report based on their findings.
The BMC has urged citizens and housing societies to cooperate with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and election staff as they conduct home visits for verification purposes.
**FAQ**
**What should I do if I find my name duplicated on the voter list?**
If you discover that your name is duplicated on the voter list, you should visit your local BMC office or the designated voter assistance center to report the issue. Officials will assist you in the verification process and ensure that your voting rights are protected.
