Q. Consider the following statements:
1. The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) in the district is responsible for the preparation of the electoral roll for each Parliamentary constituency.
2. States are mandated to use the voters list prepared by Election Commission of India (ECI) for municipality and panchayat elections to maintain uniformity.
Which of the statement given above is/are correct?
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct. The Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950 lays down the provision for the preparation of the electoral roll. Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) is responsible for the preparation of the electoral roll for each constituency (parliamentary/assembly). An appeal against the order of the ERO during the update of the electoral rolls lies before the District Magistrate.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The State Election Commission supervise municipal and panchayat elections. They are free to prepare their own electoral rolls for local body elections, and this exercise does not have to be coordinated with the ECI. However, some state laws allow the State Election Commission to borrow and use the Election Commission’s voter’s rolls for local body elections.
