Source The Hindu
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed 17 states and five Union Territories to begin preparations for the next phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which officials expect to begin in April.
According to sources in the poll body, the move is aimed at updating voter lists ahead of upcoming elections and ensuring that newly eligible voters are included while removing duplicate and ineligible entries. The revision process will involve booth-level verification, door-to-door checks and public display of draft electoral rolls.
Focus on accuracy and transparency
Officials said the Commission has asked local election machinery to strengthen manpower, verify polling stations and ensure proper training of Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Digital tools and voter awareness campaigns will also be deployed to encourage citizens to check and update their details.
The SIR exercise is considered more comprehensive than the annual summary revision because it involves physical verification in addition to data matching with government databases.
Citizens encouraged to participate
The Commission is expected to open a window for:
new voter registrations (18+ applicants)
corrections in name, address or age
shifting of constituency
deletion of deceased or duplicate voters
Authorities said voters will be able to file claims and objections both online and offline once the draft rolls are published.
Importance ahead of elections
The revision comes as several states are set to head into elections over the next year. Officials believe early preparation will help avoid last-minute corrections and improve polling day efficiency.
The poll body is likely to issue a detailed schedule closer to April after reviewing readiness reports from the states and Union Territories.
