Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to undertake a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of its electoral rolls in the coming months, an exercise that will involve a meticulous door-to-door verification of voters for the first time in 24 years. The initiative, sanctioned by the Election Commission of India (ECI), aims to purify and strengthen the state’s voter list ahead of future elections.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha, R.S. Gopalan, confirmed the move, stating that while the ECI has mandated the SIR for all states, a concrete timeline is yet to be announced. He indicated that the revision would likely be conducted around September-October, coinciding with the normal annual summary revision.
The SIR process is expected to be comprehensive, with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) tasked with visiting every household to verify voter eligibility. During this process, citizens will be required to fill out an enumeration form, either physically or online, and submit supporting documents. This door-to-door verification is a significant departure from the yearly summary revisions, which do not involve such a thorough ground-level check.
Officials believe the intensive revision will help eliminate discrepancies and duplicate entries. The CEO highlighted that with approximately 90% of voters in the state already having their Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers linked to Aadhaar, the scope for large-scale inaccuracies is minimal. He also noted that over 7,000 duplicate EPIC numbers, which were identical to those of voters in other states, have already been rectified.
In preparation for the massive exercise, the state government has been directed to ensure that all crucial posts related to the revision—including District Election Officers (DEOs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs)—are not left vacant. Transfers of these officials will also require prior approval from the ECI.
As a part of the electoral roll revision, the number of polling booths in Odisha is expected to increase from 38,000 to 45,000, which will help manage the growing number of voters and facilitate a more efficient voting process. The final electoral list, after the completion of the SIR, is expected to be published by January 7.