Ahead of pan-India SIR, poll body tracks progress of voter mapping, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Election Commission reviewed progress in mapping current electors with those on electoral rolls from the previous Special Intensive Revision (SIR) conducted between 2002 and 2004.
• Booth-level officers (BLO) are standardizing addresses and correcting discrepancies through house-to-house visits.
• A two-day conference was held in New Delhi with Chief Electoral Officers of all States, presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
• The commission announced a countrywide SIR on June 24, with a specific roll-out expected after the current assessment meeting.

Detailed Insights:

• The mapping exercise aims to cover 60%-70% of voters before the SIR process officially begins, streamlining the enumeration process.
• The SIR may be implemented in phases, starting with States holding Assembly elections in 2026, including Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
• The commission is unlikely to conduct the SIR in States with ongoing or upcoming local body elections due to the poll machinery being occupied.
• In Bihar, the voter list was created "de-novo" after the SIR, requiring all voters to submit fresh enumeration forms, leading to over 68 lakh deletions due to death, duplication, and migration.
• The SIR process has faced legal challenges in the Supreme Court, raising questions about its implementation and impact on voter registration.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Special Intensive Revision (SIR): A comprehensive revision of electoral rolls to update voter information and remove discrepancies.
• Booth-Level Officer (BLO): A grassroots-level election official responsible for voter registration, verification, and awareness at the polling booth level.
• Electoral Roll: An official list of eligible voters in a particular constituency or area, used for conducting elections.