In a major push to cleanse and update the voters’ data, Haryana is set to undertake a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls — its first comprehensive exercise in nearly 24 years — amid concerns over data inaccuracies and incomplete mapping across several districts.
The statewide drive, mandated by the Election Commission of India, will run from June 15 to July 14, with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) conducting door-to-door verification to identify discrepancies such as duplicate entries, deceased voters, and shifted residents. The final electoral roll will be published on September 22.
In a significant institutional shift, the Election Commission has, for the first time, assigned Divisional Commissioners as ‘Roll Observers’, a move aimed at strengthening monitoring and ensuring greater transparency in the revision process.
Haryana lags behind target
In the backdrop of lagging electoral roll mapping, with only 64.26 per cent completion reported so far, the officials observed urban-heavy districts including Faridabad, Gurugram, Sonipat, Panipat and Panchkula to remain below the 60 per cent mark, raising concerns about the reliability of voter data in key electoral regions.
Haryana Chief Electoral Officer A Sreenivas, who reviewed preparations via video conference with district officials, termed the slow progress “a matter of concern”.
He directed district administrations to engage Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) to boost public participation and announced personal visits to underperforming districts next week to assess on-ground progress.
As of May 21, Haryana has over 2.06 crore registered voters and 20,629 polling stations, making the SIR one of the largest administrative exercises in the state this year. Fatehabad district currently leads with 87.44 per cent mapping completion, setting a benchmark for others.
No transfers, no vacancies
To maintain continuity and accountability, the Election Commission has ruled that officials engaged in the SIR exercise will not be transferred without prior approval. It has also been mandated that key positions — including District Election Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and Assistant EROs — must not remain vacant during the process.
Strict verification protocol
Officials have acknowledged that nearly 18 per cent of the state’s electoral data contains logical errors, including spelling mistakes and incorrect entries — higher than the national average — underscoring the urgency of the revision.
To strengthen the credibility of the electoral database, BLOs have been instructed to visit each household at least three times in case of non-response. In instances where voters are unavailable, adult family members may sign and submit enumeration forms, while neighbour verification will be used to identify absentee or duplicate voters.
Even for those submitting forms online, physical verification will remain mandatory, reflecting the Commission’s emphasis on thorough authentication.
Enumeration forms will be available in Hindi from June 5 on official portals, with authorities aiming to make the process more accessible and participatory.
Public accountability measures introduced
In a bid to enhance transparency, authorities will publicly display lists of excluded voters (from draft rolls) at Panchayat Bhawans, Urban Local Body offices and BDPO offices, along with the reasons for exclusion. These lists will also be uploaded on official websites for wider access.
Additionally, 1950 helpline-based help desks will be set up at district headquarters and assembly constituencies to assist voters during the exercise.
Recognising the role of political oversight, the district officials have been directed to ensure the appointment of Booth Level Agents (BLAs) by political parties at the earliest. The administration will also rope in volunteers to support the massive field-level exercise.
