Election Commission commences first-ever training for over 1 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs) from various batches at IIIDEM First batch of BLOs from Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam participating in a 2-day training program at IIIDEM

Raipur, March 26

Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioner Dr. Vivek Joshi, inaugurated the first-ever training program for BLOs today at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi. Over the next few years, more than 1 lakh BLOs will be trained in such training programs, covering an average of one BLO for every 10 polling stations. These well-trained BLOs, who are the first and most important interface between the 100 crore electors and the Commission, will form a core of master trainers (ALMTs) at the Assembly Constituency level, thereby strengthening the entire network of BLOs across the country.
This unique capacity-building program will continue in a phased manner, with the first phase focusing on states going to polls. Currently, 109 BLOs from Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam, along with 24 EROs and 13 DEOs from Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu, are participating in this 2-day residential training program.
This training scheme has been designed to familiarize the BLOs with their roles and responsibilities as per the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Electoral Registration Rules, 1960, and the instructions issued by the Election Commission of India from time to time, and to apprise them of the requirements for filling relevant forms for updating the electoral rolls accurately. They will also be introduced to IT applications designed to assist them in their work.
BLOs are state government officials who are appointed by the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) after approval from the District Election Officers (DEOs). Emphasizing the crucial role of EROs and BLOs in updating the electoral rolls accurately, Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar stressed that state governments should nominate SDM level or equivalent officers as EROs, who, while duly considering the seniority of BLOs, should consider appointing those officers as BLOs who are ordinary residents of the polling station area falling under their jurisdiction.
The Chief Election Commissioner emphasized that only citizens of India who are over 18 years of age and are ordinary residents of the concerned constituency can become electors as per Article 326 of the Constitution and Section 20 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. He reiterated his instructions to all Chief Electoral Officers, District Election Officers, and Electoral Registration Officers to convene all-party meetings at their respective levels and resolve issues related to their jurisdiction, including the accurate updating of electoral rolls. The Chief Election Commissioner also cautioned that strict action would be taken against any complaint against EROs or BLOs. He also stated that all BLOs should be courteous in their interaction with electors during house-to-house verification for updating the electoral roll. He said that the Commission has always been, is, and will always be with the nearly 100 crore voters.