Five states/UTs set for draft voter roll release Tuesday: ECI kicks off ‘Claims and Objections’ phase

The Election Commission (EC) announced Monday that the draft electoral rolls for five regions — West Bengal, Rajasthan, Goa, Puducherry, and Lakshadweep — will be officially published on Tuesday, December 16.

The publication is a major milestone in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, an initiative by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to guarantee that voter lists are comprehensive, accurate, and current in preparation for future polls.

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To ensure widespread scrutiny and public participation, the poll body has mandated transparent distribution of the draft rolls:
Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) and District Electoral Officers (DEOs) are required to share hard copies of the draft rolls with all recognised political parties. This measure is intended to facilitate party-level verification and collaborative error rectification.

For easy access, the complete draft rolls will be uploaded on the official websites of the respective CEOs and DEOs. This allows citizens to quickly verify their existing entries, correct any mistakes, and apply for fresh inclusion.

The release follows the conclusion of the enumeration period for these five regions, which involved a comprehensive, house-to-house verification drive by Booth Level Officers (BLOs).

With the draft publication on December 16, the crucial period for Claims and Objections will officially commence. Citizens are strongly encouraged to use this opportunity to:

Check the Draft: Confirm their personal details and inclusion status.

File Claims: Apply for inclusion if their name is missing (Form 6).

Raise Objections: Challenge any incorrect entries or seek corrections (Form 7/8).