Online glitches force citizens to vent ire online

Kolkata: Flooded with a slew of queries raised by online users facing the "linking" and "no record found" issues while trying to fill up the SIR enumeration form online, the Election Commission on Sunday specified that linking the phone number with EPIC can be done "instantly" by submitting Form-8 before filling up the enumeration form.The chief electoral officer, West Bengal, posted on their X handle stating, "Before filing enumeration forms, the EPIC has to be linked to a mobile number. If it was not linked already, that can be done instantly by submitting Form-8 (for mobile number linking with EPIC, click ‘correction of entries in existing electoral roll', then ‘mobile number' option ONLY under Form-8)."They specified that once EPIC is linked, applicants will have to log in again and fill up the form, including the last SIR information. The form has to be submitted through Aadhaar-based e-sign. The current name mentioned in the form as per EPIC and Aadhaar data has to be matched for e-sign and submission of enumeration forms.Many from Bengal living in other states cast their worries on social media over online enumeration forms. After the facility was opened on Friday night, social media is once again flooded with queries and obstacles faced by individuals.Commenting on the post by CEO West Bengal on X, a handle by Debashis Roy from Ballygunge constituency posted, "I am unable to submit the ‘SIR 2026 online form' due to an error, although my name appears in the electoral roll for the preceding SIR…I am outside my state." Another user, Ramit Khan, posted, "Repeatedly RECORDS NOT FOUND pop-up message coming up even after punching in all details of 2002. On choosing that my name appears in the 2002 roll, it will ask to provide state, AC, booth number, and serial number of the elector. After punching in the data- NO RECORD FOUND coming."The issues have been repeatedly raised by users on X, Facebook, and Reddit. There have also been queries about applying online even after receiving forms physically. Private firm employee Nishit Ladha (43) is residing in Pune while his parents are in Kolkata and so is his voting centre. "The option to fill Form-8 was easy but it can create data discrepancy conflicts in SIR. The BLAs advised first getting the enumeration task done through physical form and updating the missing details after the final list is ready."