Chief Electoral Officer Reviews Preparations for Special Intensive Revision Programme

Municipal Commissioners of Seven Districts Appointed as Additional District Election Officers

Udaipur: Chief Electoral Officer Naveen Mahajan on Wednesday conducted a detailed district-wise review of the preparations for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Electoral Roll. Addressing all Divisional Commissioners and District Election Officers via video conference from the Secretariat, Mahajan issued comprehensive directions to ensure the programme’s smooth execution.

The meeting was also addressed by Bhanu Prakash Atru, Deputy Election Commissioner and Zonal Officer for Rajasthan, representing the Election Commission of India. From Udaipur, Divisional Commissioner Pragya Kewalramani, Deputy District Election Officer Dipendra Singh Rathore, and EROs and AEROs of all seven assembly constituencies participated in the review.

Focus on Training and Monitoring

Mahajan emphasized that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) play a pivotal role in the SIR process. He stated that training sessions for BLOs and supervisors have been completed, and refresher courses will soon be held as per the new guidelines. BLOs will be required to record their daily progress, which will be monitored at the supervisor, ERO, DEO, and CEO levels. He also directed that volunteers and helpdesk personnel undergo training to strengthen ground-level implementation.

Advisory for BLOs

During the SIR process, BLOs must carry their identification cards, complete all assigned tasks within the stipulated timeframe, and update data on the BLO app regularly. They should also coordinate closely with Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to ensure accuracy and transparency.

Mapping of Voters with Previous SIR Lists

The Chief Electoral Officer informed that all states’ electoral rolls have been uploaded on the official portal (https://erms.eci.gov.in) and are also available on the CEO Rajasthan website. He directed officials to map current voters with their family lineage—including parents or grandparents listed in the previous SIR rolls—to verify familial relationships accurately.

He reported that 70% of voters in Rajasthan have already been mapped, and the target is to increase this figure to 85% soon, which will eliminate the need for document submission during verification.

Appointment of Additional District Election Officers

To address urban apathy and ensure wider voter inclusion, Mahajan announced that Municipal Commissioners of seven major districts—Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Ajmer, Udaipur, Bikaner, and Bharatpur—have been appointed as Additional District Election Officers (ADEOs). This move aims to facilitate efficient voter mapping and enumeration in urban areas.

Political and Media Engagement

Mahajan instructed District Election Officers to brief representatives of recognized political parties on all aspects of the SIR through detailed presentations. He also emphasized the importance of appointing Booth Level Agents (BLAs) and ensuring their participation to maintain fairness and transparency.

He directed that district-level media cells remain alert and active. Only the District Election Officer (DEO) will serve as the official spokesperson for all election-related communications. Regular press releases and social media updates are to be issued to keep the public informed.

Awareness and Public Participation

Mahajan further urged officials to launch awareness campaigns in schools, colleges, and panchayats to encourage online voter applications. Special emphasis will be placed on involving Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Rajsakhi volunteers to motivate women voters.

Deputy Election Commissioner Bhanu Prakash Atru instructed all DEOs to maximize voter mapping to enhance convenience for the electorate and ensure that all officers and employees involved in election duties remain well-versed with constitutional provisions.