Election Commission Extends Deadline for Voter List Cleanup; Final Roll Now on February 14
By Tajdar H. Zaidi
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has extended the deadline for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories by one week, pushing the final publication date to February 14.
The extension is expected to spark intense debate when the Parliament’s Winter Session begins tomorrow, with the Opposition likely to raise concerns over the exercise.
In its detailed three-page order issued today, the EC announced that polling authorities have been granted an additional week to complete the publication of the draft electoral rolls.
The enumeration phase, which was earlier scheduled to conclude on December 4, will now continue until December 11.
As per the revised timeline:
- Draft voter list publication: Rescheduled from December 9 to December 16
- Final electoral roll publication: February 14, 2025
Opposition Seeks Rescheduling Amid Pressure on BLOs
This week, leaders from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and several other Opposition parties met Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi, urging the Commission to reconsider the schedule and execution of the SIR exercise.
They highlighted severe strain on Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who are tasked with conducting extensive door-to-door verification under strict timelines.
The issue has gained urgency amid reports of BLO deaths by suicide from West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, allegedly linked to excessive workload.
West Bengal, which heads to the polls early next year, remains at the centre of the controversy as the first phase of the SIR exercise in the state approaches completion.
Nearly 35 Lakh Voters Expected to Be Removed
According to the EC, 18.70 lakh deceased voters have been identified in the current electoral rolls as of the evening of November 29.
The Commission has now revised its earlier projections, estimating that approximately 35 lakh names may be deleted in the draft roll.
This figure includes:
- 18.70 lakh deceased voters
- Duplicate entries
- Untraceable voters
- Individuals permanently relocated to other states
The cleanup is part of efforts to ensure accuracy and prevent electoral fraud through inflated or outdated voter lists.
