New Delhi, Dec 12 (UNI) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed Special Roll Observers (SROs) to oversee the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Electoral Rolls in eight major states: West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan.
“This high-level supervision aims to guarantee the integrity and accuracy of the voter list before its final publication in February 2026,” the commission said in a press note on Friday.
The SIR is a comprehensive, house-to-house enumeration and verification process undertaken by the ECI to ensure an accurate and error-free electoral roll. It is a critical exercise to clean the rolls by including all eligible voters and removing entries for deceased, shifted or ineligible persons, thereby upholding the principle of “one person, one vote.”
The newly appointed Special Roll Observers have already commenced their duties. They are mandated to be present in the designated states two days a week until the conclusion of the revision process in early 2026.
A core part of the SROs’ mandate is to ensure the process is “smooth, transparent and participatory.” To achieve this, the observers will conduct crucial meetings with the state and district-level leadership of all national and state political parties. This engagement is designed to address any concerns and incorporate feedback directly from stakeholders.
Furthermore, the SROs will hold regular meetings, both physical and virtual, with the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) and District Election Officers (DEOs) to closely monitor the progress and adherence to the Commission’s guidelines.
The primary objective of the SRO deployment is to observe that the SIR process progress meticulously to guarantee “that no eligible elector is left out and no ineligible person is included in the Electoral Rolls,” the statement notes.
An official overseeing the process, speaking on the condition of anonymity, commented on the importance of the move: “The appointment of Special Roll Observers ensures enhanced scrutiny and transparency in the SIR process across all divisions. Their presence will strengthen monitoring and compliance with EC norms, which is vital for building public trust in the final electoral rolls.”
The intensive revision process, with this increased oversight, is set to culminate with the final publication of the revised Electoral Rolls in February 2026.
