AMRITSAR: The mandatory personal presence requirement for Sikh voters registering for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections has led to a significant decrease in voter turnout. Gurbax Singh Bedi, additional secretary of Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Amritsar, expressed concern over the requirement, emphasizing that it has discouraged Sikh voters from registering.For instance, Bedi highlighted that even within a family with multiple eligible voters, each individual is required to personally visit the office to submit their registration form. This process has been met with objections and is seen as an impediment to voter participation.Its worth noting that the current SGPC tenure has expired, and preparations for the election are underway. The work of creating the electoral roll started on October 21 and will continue until November 19, with the final list set to be published on January 16.Bedi raised questions about the necessity of the personal presence requirement when submitting registration forms. In response, the concerned officer referred to a letter issued by the Gurdwara Election Commissioner on October 20, 2023. This letter directed deputy commissioners not to accept forms in bulk, leading to the current practice.As an example, Bedi cited that only nine voter registration forms were submitted at an office in Panorama Center, Amritsar, between October 21 and November 1, further underscoring the issue of low turnout resulting from the personal presence requirement.

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