Odisha to Launch Special Intensive Voter List Revision in September 2025
Bhubaneswar- Aug-18, OT Webdesk: Odisha is set to undertake a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of its electoral roll beginning September 2025, marking the first such exercise since 2002. State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) R.S. Gopalan announced that the final updated voter list will be published on January 7, 2026.
The revision will accept 11 types of documents for identity and residence verification, ranging from birth certificates and passports to land records and caste certificates. This inclusive documentation policy is designed to ensure broad participation and accurate representation.
Responding to allegations from political parties like the Congress and BJD, Gopalan emphasised that all concerns have been addressed and urged parties to seek judicial recourse if necessary. He dismissed the objections as baseless and reiterated the Election Commission’s commitment to transparency.
In a bid to accommodate the growing electorate, the number of polling booths will increase from 38,000 to 45,000. Additionally, 7,000 EPIC numbers—some linked to other states—have been replaced with new, unique identifiers to eliminate duplication and ensure voting integrity.
To improve data accuracy, the ECI-Net portal will enable real-time collection of polling data. Gopalan also clarified that Form 17-C is shared with party agents post-polling, and urged political representatives to verify their claims through proper channels.
This comprehensive revision reflects Odisha’s proactive approach to strengthening its democratic infrastructure and restoring public trust in the electoral process.
