New Delhi: The Election Commission has directed 17 States and Union Territories to conduct a Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls with 1st January next year as the qualifying date. These states and UTs are Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.
The Commission said in its letter that it had issued instructions on the 29th of September to undertake a special drive for the enrolment of left-out, young and first-time eligible electors. EC also said that the schedule for SSR in States and UTs where the Special Intensive Revision is ongoing or has recently been completed will be announced later. It added that for Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, where SIR has not been started so far, the schedule for roll revision will be announced in due course of time.
The Commission further said that the Electoral Registration Officer of the concerned assembly constituency shall be responsible for ensuring that no eligible citizen is left out while no ineligible person gets included or remains in the Electoral Roll. During the Special Summary Revision, the Chief Electoral Officer, District Election Officers, and Electoral Registration Officers will ensure that every eligible person is enrolled as an elector.
Our correspondent reports that since the revision is a Summary Revision in nature, there will be no house-to-house visits by Booth Level Officers to electors. In order to ensure maximum participation of the young and first-time voters, all prospective electors eligible on 1st January 2027 and those who become eligible on 1st April 2027, 1st July 2027, and 1st October 2027 can also send their advance applications for enrolment. Help desks will be set up at the district level to facilitate enrolment of electors, especially migrants, the vulnerable, and marginalised.
[AIR News]