Chandigarh: The Election Commission has formally concluded the initial phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across Punjab, unearthing significant database discrepancies that include untraceable electors, deceased individuals, and widespread duplicate voter entries. Official figures compiled during the extensive door-to-door verification campaign reveal that approximately 20 lakh registered voters could not be located at their recorded residential addresses, while an additional 4.12 lakh electors were classified as missing. Furthermore, field checks established that 5.75 lakh registered voters have passed away, and nearly 1.25 lakh duplicate entries were identified across various assembly constituencies throughout the state.
Throughout the enumeration phase of the revision drive, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) engaged in comprehensive field outreach by distributing 2.61 crore official enumeration forms directly to households. Of the total forms issued to residents, field officials successfully collected nearly 2.41 crore completed forms, representing a high rate of public participation in the verification initiative. The gathered information is currently being processed to cleanse the state’s voter registry, ensuring that invalid, fraudulent, or outdated records are systematically identified and updated prior to future elections.
Following the collection and digital processing of the enumeration forms, the Election Commission is scheduled to officially publish the preliminary draft voter list on August 13. Once the draft list is released, citizens will be provided with a time frame of approximately one month to inspect the records and lodge formal claims or objections regarding missing names, incorrect details, or wrongful inclusions. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) operating in each constituency will adjudicate all claims and objections, conducting field inquiries where necessary before deciding on final inclusions in the official voter roll.
To safeguard the accuracy of the voter database, Electoral Registration Officers will issue official notices to individuals whose supporting documentation raises administrative concerns or discrepancies. Voters receiving these notices will be required to present themselves in person before the designated ERO along with valid identity and residential documentation to clarify their status. Election officials highlighted that this multi-layered review mechanism is designed to eliminate duplicate entries, rectify clerical errors, and ensure that the finalized electoral roll remains transparent, credible, and fully representative of Punjab’s eligible voting population.
