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Odisha is set to launch a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of its electoral rolls—the first such drive since 2002. With political tension brewing and Opposition criticism mounting, the State government has begun preparations for a door-to-door verification.
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According to official sources, following Bihar’s lead, the Odisha government is preparing to conduct a Special Intensive Revision of the voter list—a large-scale door-to-door verification to eliminate fake voters and update electoral rolls comprehensively.
This move marks the first SIR in Odisha since 2002, as most annual revisions so far have been summary revisions, where voters submit documents voluntarily for inclusion or deletion. In contrast, SIR involves Booth Level Officers (BLOs) visiting every household to verify voter details with proper documentation.
A letter from the Chief Secretary has directed all departments and district administrations to begin preparations. Officials must ensure that posts such as District Election Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and Assistant EROs (AEROs) are filled and no transfers occur during the process.
The State government aims to strengthen the voter database, streamline polling stations, and verify eligibility and address of voters.
However, the move has triggered political reactions:
• Congress has alleged that the revision may be used to exclude voters based on caste or religion, warning of serious consequences if mishandled.
• BJD has demanded a multi-party meeting before finalising implementation.
• Meanwhile, the BJP has supported the revision, calling for nationwide enforcement.
While some officials have been named for immediate appointment, vacant posts are being filled urgently as per instructions from the State’s top administrative office.
The survey is expected to begin very soon, and its success will depend on the cooperation of local administrations and transparent procedures.
“As a normal process, the revision of electoral rolls was carried out in 2002. Now, this will be done after nearly 25 years and there is no problem in it. Those who have double Voter ID cards, who are fake voters, and who have died in the meanwhile will be removed from the list,” a constitution analyst, Manas Behera, opined when contacted.
“However, the 11 documents sought by the Government to revise the electoral roll will be difficult for the general public to produce. The election authorities should be sensitive to this and allow time taking the matter into consideration,” the analyst added.
Reported By: Laxminarayan Kanungo, Jagdish Das, Soumya Ranjan Sahoo
