Section 18: Section 18 – No Person to Be Registered More Than Once in the Same Constituency

Overview

Section 18 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, is a crucial part of ensuring the integrity of electoral rolls. It specifically addresses the issue of duplicate registrations – making sure that no individual is listed more than once within the same Assembly constituency. This is fundamental to the principle of ‘one person, one vote’ and prevents potential electoral fraud.

Key Provisions

• Prohibition of Multiple Registrations: The core provision is a clear prohibition against a person being registered in the electoral roll for the same Assembly constituency more than once.
• Focus on Constituency: The restriction applies *within* a specific Assembly constituency. A person can be registered in multiple constituencies if they meet the eligibility criteria for each (e.g., owning property in different locations).
• Addressing Duplicates: This section empowers Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to identify and address duplicate entries, including those with slight variations in spelling or the same address.

Impact on Voters and Electoral Rolls

Section 18 directly impacts the accuracy and reliability of electoral rolls. By preventing duplicate registrations, it ensures that each eligible voter has only one opportunity to vote, upholding the fairness of the election process. It also reduces the workload on election officials during polling by minimizing confusion and potential disputes related to multiple entries for the same individual. A clean electoral roll is essential for a credible election.

Practical Examples

• Example 1: Simple Duplicate – Mr. Sharma applies for voter registration twice using the same details (name, address, date of birth) in the same Assembly constituency. The BLO, upon discovering this, will remove the duplicate entry.
• Example 2: Spelling Variation – Ms. Devi applies as “Devi Sharma” and later as “Devi S. Sharma” at the same address within the same constituency. The BLO will identify these as likely being the same person and investigate before removing one of the entries. This also applies to minor variations in address formatting.

Related Sections / Rules

Section 18 works closely with Section 17 of the RPA 1950, which deals with the general qualifications for voter registration. The Registration of Electors Rules, 1962, particularly those relating to the process of electoral roll preparation and revision, are also relevant. Specifically, rules concerning the handling of objections and the removal of duplicate entries are frequently used in conjunction with Section 18. Rule 26 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1962, deals with the removal of names from the electoral roll, which can be invoked when duplicate registrations are confirmed.