SIR Aftermath: BLOs To Go Door-To-Door To Trace Voters Missing From Revised Rolls

In a fresh layer of scrutiny following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the Election Commission has ordered Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in 20 states and Union Territories where the exercise has been completed to identify voters whose names appeared in the pre-SIR rolls but are missing from the current lists.

The exercise will go beyond simply asking eligible citizens to submit fresh enrolment applications. BLOs have been directed to prepare booth-wise lists of such electors, visit their homes to establish their present status and facilitate their re-enrolment wherever they are found eligible.

The lists will also be shared with Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of recognised political parties, creating an additional layer of scrutiny around voters who may have been left out during the revision.

EC Orders Targeted Comparison Of Pre- And Post-SIR Rolls

The instructions follow the Commission's September 29 directive for a special drive to enrol “left out, young/first time voters” through the continuous updation process.

Under the latest instructions, BLOs have been asked to directly compare the current electoral roll with the pre-SIR roll and prepare a list of electors who appeared in the earlier roll but are absent from the revised list.

They will then undertake house-to-house visits to determine what happened to each voter — including whether the person continues to live at the address and remains eligible to vote.

Where an elector is found eligible, the BLO will assist the person in submitting Form 6 for enrolment. Officials have also been told to record the present status of every elector identified and specifically mark cases where Form 6 has been submitted.

The exercise therefore places the election machinery in a proactive role, with officials required to identify potentially left-out voters rather than waiting solely for individuals to approach election offices.

BLOs Given One-Month Target

The Commission has prescribed a fieldwork target for the exercise.

BLOs have been asked to cover at least 20 to 25 electors every week, with the exercise expected to be completed in approximately one month.

The house-to-house visits will also provide an opportunity to identify young and first-time voters who have not yet been enrolled and facilitate their registration.

The Commission has emphasised that voter enrolment remains a continuous process and that eligible citizens who were not included during the SIR can still seek enrolment.

Political Parties To Receive Booth-Wise Lists

The process also provides for political-party involvement.

BLOs have been instructed to share the identified lists with Booth Level Agents of recognised political parties. The lists, along with Form 6 applications and field verification reports, will be submitted to the Electoral Registration Officer.

The ERO will remain the competent authority to decide the cases under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

Once the exercise is completed, EROs will again share booth-wise lists with political-party representatives, giving them an opportunity to assist eligible electors who may have been left out.

‘Dead’, ‘Shifted’ And ‘Absent’ Electors Under Verification

The exercise will particularly examine voters whose status during the revision was recorded as dead, shifted or absent.

The objective is to establish whether any genuine voters may have been left out because of clerical or procedural issues.

The move comes amid continued scrutiny of the SIR exercise and concerns over the scale of deletions from electoral rolls. The Indian Express reported that the Commission's September 29 communication was followed by further instructions during a meeting with state Chief Electoral Officers on October 1.

An Election Commission official quoted by CNN-News18 said the poll panel remained confident about the SIR process but was open to concerns regarding voters who may have been left out.

“We are sure of the process undertaken but not closed to the concerns being expressed. Hence this exercise to recheck,” the official said.

However, officials have clarified that “doubtful” electors whose cases are pending before tribunals will not be covered by this particular audit.

Special Camps For Homeless And Marginalised Voters

The Commission has also directed states to organise Booth Level Camps to facilitate enrolment applications.

Special camps may be organised for people living in night shelters and labour colonies, as well as homeless and other marginalised groups.

Election authorities have also been asked to step up awareness and mobilisation through educational institutions, local outreach initiatives and Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programmes.

The progress of the drive will be monitored by Chief Electoral Officers, District Election Officers and Electoral Registration Officers.

The latest measures come as the Election Commission faces continuing public and political scrutiny over the SIR process and concerns about eligible voters whose names may not have appeared in the revised electoral rolls.