Chandigarh, April 4 Punjab is preparing for the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with all preparatory activities progressing in a structured and time-bound manner in anticipation of a notification from the Election Commission regarding the SIR exercise schedule, officials said on Saturday.
Highlighting the progress achieved so far, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anindita Mitra, informed that a comprehensive pre-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) mapping exercise has been undertaken across all districts of the state.
According to the latest data as of April 4, 74.27 per cent of the electors in Punjab have been mapped with the last intensive revision records. Out of the total 2,14,57,521 electors, as many as 1,59,36,941 electors have been mapped across the state, the Punjab CEO said in a statement here.
To ensure timely and efficient completion of the pre-SIR exercise, daily monitoring of progress made by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) has been undertaken at the headquarters level, enabling close supervision and prompt resolution of issues, the statement said.
In February, the Election Commission had asked 22 states and Union Territories, including Punjab, to complete preparatory work related to the SIR at the earliest, as the exercise is "expected to start from April".
Providing district-wise details, Mitra stated that districts such as Tarn Taran (88.64 per cent), Moga (86.91 per cent), Sri Muktsar Sahib (85.47 per cent), and Mansa (84.20 per cent) have recorded some of the highest mapping percentages.
Other major districts, including Ludhiana (64.14 per cent), Amritsar (75.60 per cent), Jalandhar (68.05 per cent), and Patiala (69.33 per cent), have also shown substantial progress.
The CEO emphasised that electors can proactively locate and map their details by referring to the 2003 electoral rolls, which serve as a key reference for the SIR process.
Electors can access the 2003 voter list through the official portal of the Election Commission of India.
"Citizens are encouraged to search for their names in the 2003 electoral roll. In case their name is not found, they may also verify the details of their family members, such as parents or grandparents, to establish linkage," Mitra said.
The CEO added that during the SIR exercise, booth-level officers (BLOs) will conduct door-to-door enumeration across the state. Enumeration forms will be distributed in duplicate and collected along with supporting documents, ensuring complete coverage.
Every elector whose name appears in the 2025 voter list is required to fill out these Enumeration forms, she said.
"Active cooperation from citizens will be crucial to ensure that every eligible voter is included and that electoral rolls remain accurate and up to date," the CEO added.
The officer further noted that the appointment of booth-level agents (BLAs) by political parties is a crucial requirement, adding that over 8,000 BLAs have been appointed across the state, thereby ensuring wider stakeholder participation in the electoral process.
To facilitate electors, a state and district contact centre has been set up at the toll-free number 1950.
The helpline operates from 9 am to 5 pm on working days and will function round the clock during the SIR period.
Citizens can also lodge complaints through this number. Additionally, electors can use the "Book a Call with BLO" facility on the ECINET platform and access various services through the Voter Helpline App, she said.
Mitra emphasised that the objective of SIR is to ensure accurate, inclusive, and error-free electoral rolls, forming the foundation of a strong democratic system.
Punjab, she said, is fully prepared to roll out the SIR exercise seamlessly as soon as the schedule is notified.
The CEO urged all voters to cooperate with their BLOs to ensure that their votes are mapped with the 2003 voter list, well before the House-to-House Enumeration begins.
She also cautioned that having votes in more than one place is an offence under the Representation of the People's Act, 1950.