The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced an extension for submitting claims and objections related to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Odisha. The new deadline has been set for August 19, 2026, moving from the previous date of August 4, 2026. This decision was made following a request from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha to accommodate more participants in the revision process.

In an official notification released on Friday, the ECI confirmed that the adjustment to the timeline will allow citizens additional time to ensure they can express any claims or objections regarding the electoral rolls. The SIR process is crucial as it aims to enhance the accuracy of voter registrations and maintain up-to-date electoral rolls.

Details of the Revision Process

The qualifying date for this revision has been set as July 1, 2026. The ECI’s revised schedule includes a “Notice Phase” followed by the resolution of claims and objections, which will take place until September 17, 2026. The finalised electoral rolls for Odisha are expected to be published on September 21, 2026.

The notification from the ECI cited the power granted under the proviso to Rule 12 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, which allows for such extensions when deemed necessary. The ECI aims to ensure that the electoral rolls are comprehensive and represent the current electorate accurately.

This initiative reflects the ECI’s ongoing commitment to enhancing electoral integrity. Engaging more citizens in the revision process is seen as an essential step toward achieving more reliable voter documentation.

Recent Developments in Andhra Pradesh

In a related update, the ECI has recently released draft electoral rolls for Andhra Pradesh following the enumeration phase of the SIR in that region. During the enumeration period, which lasted from June 15 to July 24, 2026, approximately 3.71 crore electors submitted their Enumeration Forms.

The Chief Electoral Officer’s office reported that 3,71,38,182 electors, representing 89.22 per cent of the state’s total 4,16,27,694 electors, completed their forms during this phase. Additionally, 15.22 lakh electors were classified as deceased, accounting for 3.66 per cent of the total, while 22.30 lakh were marked as permanently shifted or absent, representing 5.35 per cent.

The exercise also revealed that 7.37 lakh electors were enrolled at multiple locations in the electoral rolls, equating to 1.77 per cent. The ECI has stated that the names of these electors will be maintained at only one location, following the established protocol for handling multiple registrations.

Notably, certain electors could not be located by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the enumeration. This could be attributed to various factors such as relocation to other States or Union Territories, failure to meet the submission deadline, or a lack of interest in registering as voters.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share