Bhubaneswar: Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voters’ list is set to be undertaken in Odisha soon, the first such exercise in the state in 24 years.
The initiative aims to enhance the accuracy and transparency of the electoral rolls ahead of upcoming elections.
Announcing this in Bhubaneswar on Monday, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) R S Gopalan said that the final electoral roll after verification under SIR will be released on January 7.
To ensure wider voter participation, the number of polling booths in Odisha will be increased from 38,000 to 45,000.
Responding to objections raised by political parties, the CEO clarified that detailed replies have already been provided—twice to the BJD and also to the Congress. He appealed to parties not to make baseless allegations that could “undermine the credibility of the Election Commission.”
The CEO also addressed concerns about voter identity cards, revealing that around 7,000 cards linked to Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers have been replaced, including 5,000 in Banki. He stressed that an EPIC number alone is not sufficient to cast a vote—a valid voter card remains mandatory.
The SIR process has drawn political attention nationally. Opposition parties recently staged protests in Parliament against the ongoing electoral roll revision in Bihar, alleging large-scale exclusions and demanding a discussion.