Duplicate Voter Registration May Lead to Jail Term Says Telangana Election Chief

The Telangana Chief Electoral Officer has warned that individuals who intentionally maintain voter registrations in more than one constituency could face legal action, including up to one year in prison and monetary penalties. Officials stressed that electoral laws apply equally to every citizen without exception.

Chief Electoral Officer C Sudarshan Reddy urged all eligible voters to actively participate in the ongoing voter enumeration exercise to protect their voting rights. He said every citizen must submit the required enumeration form so that electoral records remain accurate and up to date.

He clarified that there are no special exemptions under election rules, stating that the law applies equally to everyone, including the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister. Every voter is expected to follow the same verification process.

Officials also advised that voters who have not received the enumeration form from Booth Level Officers can instead submit Form 6 to complete the registration or update process. This ensures that eligible citizens are not left out of the electoral rolls.

According to election officials, the voter enumeration drive is progressing quickly in rural areas. However, the exercise has been slower in urban regions because of frequent address changes and difficulties in verifying residential details.

Sudarshan Reddy also acknowledged delays in distributing forms in some locations, attributing the issue to inadequate awareness among certain Booth Level Officers. He said steps are being taken to improve coordination and ensure the enumeration process is completed smoothly across the state.

The Election Department has appealed to all voters to cooperate with officials and complete the required formalities on time to safeguard their right to vote in future elections.