Nagpur: Long queues outside Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing centres on Thursday may have given an impression of a lengthy process, but inside, citizens moved through multiple verification desks relatively quickly, with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) helping streamline the exercise.Citizens whose names were missing from the 2002 SIR records or whose details had discrepancies had to appear for verification. While several centres witnessed queues, the process for most individual applicants was completed without much delay.The exercise begins with the BLO collecting the applicant’s documents and uploading scanned copies on the ECI Net portal. A BLO explained that applicants can submit govt-issued or other credible documents establishing their date of birth, though Aadhaar and voter ID are not accepted for this particular verification.Once the documents are uploaded, the applicant moves to the next desk, where a form containing their personal details is filled out. The information is then cross-checked against the documents submitted by the citizen.The applicant is subsequently directed to the final desk, where the AERO conducts another round of verification. The documents are uploaded again after cross-checking, while the hard copy of the form completed at the previous desk is also submitted to the AERO.The digital system has also reduced the paperwork and time involved for BLOs. A BLO told TOI that the ECI Net application and online document-upload facility had made the process easier, as officials could scan or photograph documents and upload them directly.Citizens waiting outside the centres said the process inside was generally smooth, despite the queues. Several applicants appreciated the fact that officials were explaining the requirements and moving applicants from one desk to another without unnecessary delays.There were, however, some hiccups. “A few citizens arrived without the required documents and had to return home to collect them before completing the verification. Some created a bit of a ruckus, but these were just a few bumps on a relatively smooth process,” an ERO said.
