Election Commission Takes Action to Address Voter List Issues: What You Need to Know

The Election Commission of India has announced a series of measures to tackle issues related to the Special Intensive Review of voter lists. These initiatives include extending deadlines for filing claims, facilitating home visits by election officials, and setting up help desks for those facing removal notices. The commission aims to streamline the voter registration process and ensure inclusivity for all eligible voters. With these changes, the Election Commission is working to enhance the electoral experience for citizens across the country. Read on to learn more about the specific measures and their implications.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 26, 2026, 20:36 IST

Measures Announced by the Election Commission

New Delhi: Facing criticism over issues encountered during the Special Intensive Review of voter lists, the Election Commission has unveiled several initiatives. These include extending the deadline for filing claims, arranging home visits by election officials, and establishing help desks for individuals receiving notices regarding their removal from the electoral rolls.

Following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Dr. S S Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, the commission revealed that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will now visit homes to gather and upload necessary documents for individuals who are unmapped or have discrepancies.

In-person hearings at the offices of Electoral Registration Officers (ERO) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AERO) will now only be necessary in exceptional cases, with a preference for online meetings.

Family members authorized by the elector can also represent them during these processes, as stated by the Election Commission.

The commission is enhancing facilities for online hearings to streamline the process.

District Election Officers (DECOs) have been instructed to set up sufficient help desks and organize special camps for vulnerable populations, including those in night shelters, laborers, and the homeless, as needed.

The Election Commission has already implemented various upgrades to its portal based on feedback from State Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) over recent months.

If field officers require additional flexibility, the commission will ensure that it is provided.

In response to a request from the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi, the deadline for filing claims and objections has been extended to October 30.

Consequently, the timeline for processing notices and claims has also been pushed back to November 30.

Similarly, in Maharashtra, the deadline for filing claims and objections has been extended to October 12, with the processing period now ending on November 10.

For the 20 states and Union Territories where the Special Intensive Review has been completed, including Bihar and West Bengal, the Election Commission stated that anyone whose name was omitted during the review or afterward, including first-time voters, can apply for inclusion in the electoral rolls through the continuous updating process.

The respective CEOs have been directed to facilitate this process and initiate a special enrollment drive for these voters.

In Goa, the Chief Electoral Officer has instructed BLOs to conduct house-to-house visits to reach out to voters who were left out and collect their forms. So far, 81 out of 97 voters have completed Form 6 for inclusion in the state's electoral rolls.