Bhubaneswar: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls will begin in Odisha on July 1, as part of Phase-III of the nationwide exercise.
The revision will be conducted across 16 states and 3 Union Territories, excluding Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh due to weather and Census scheduling.
Officials confirmed that the SIR schedule aligns with the ongoing house listing under the Census to ensure efficient field coordination. Over 3.94 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit households to verify details of 36.73 crore electors, assisted by 3.42 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties.
The Election Commission urged all political parties to appoint BLAs for each polling booth to ensure transparency and full participation in the revision process. The exercise aims to update voter lists comprehensively and strengthen electoral accuracy ahead of future elections.
In the first two phases of SIR, conducted in 13 states and Union Territories, officials covered nearly 59 crore electors with the help of 6.3 lakh BLOs and 9.2 lakh BLAs. The upcoming phase will complete the nationwide coverage, marking a major milestone in India’s electoral roll management.
The Commission emphasised that the SIR is a participative process involving electors, political parties, and officials, ensuring inclusivity and accountability in voter registration.