Northeast Desk, 17th October: The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Sikkim on October 17 commenced the Special Summary Revision, marking a crucial step in the electoral process.
The event took place at the Conference hall of Balwakhani, Gangtok, and was graced by Chief Electoral Officer D. Anandan, IAS, along with various political party representatives.
The main focus of the event was the presentation of the Draft Electoral Roll as of October 17, 2023, which includes a total of 4,58,406 electors. These electors are divided into 2,30,615 males, 2,27,790 females, and one transgender voter.
One notable aspect is the significant increase in youth participation, with 6,861 new voters between the ages of 18-19 enrolling during the continuous revision from January 5, 2023, to October 1, 2023.
This surge, along with the participation of 1,993 service voters, results in a net increase of 15,652 voters due to enrolment and migration.
It’s worth mentioning that 7,796 voters were removed during this process, resulting in an overall increase of 1.74% over the Final Electoral Roll published on January 5, 2023.
During his speech, CEO D. Anandan encouraged all Sikkim voters to ensure their names are included in the Electoral Roll, urging those eligible to seize this opportunity. The CEO also emphasized the vital role that every voter plays in the democratic process.
To enhance oversight and transparency, the Election Commission of India has appointed three Roll Observers: Roshni Rai, Special Secretary in the UDD, Annapurna Alley, Special Secretary in the Agriculture Department, and Suman Gurung, Special Secretary in the Women & Child Development Department.
CEO D. Anandan acknowledged these Roll Observers for their dedication to ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process.
During the event, the Vice-Chancellor of SRM University presented the KAP Survey Report to the CEO of Sikkim, contributing to the state’s ongoing efforts to understand voter behavior and engagement.
The launch program witnessed the presence of representatives from political parties, Bikram Bhattarai, the Election Icon for People with Disabilities (PwD) for the State, members of the State Steering Committee for Accessible Elections, State SVEEP Core Committee members, and Booth Level Officers from surrounding Assembly Constituencies.