The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in the state is moving forward at a rapid pace. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have already gone door-to-door and distributed enumeration forms to nearly 60 percent of voters. However, simply receiving the form is not enough — the truly crucial stage of this process is only just beginning. To safeguard your voting right, the enumeration form given by the BLO must be filled out completely and returned immediately. Anyone who has not yet received the enumeration form should obtain and complete it without delay. Here are the details on what needs to be done to keep your vote secure during this ongoing SIR process.
Priority: Checking the 2002 Voter List
The most important first step in this revision process is checking the 2002 voter list. You can verify whether your name is on it by visiting the Election Commission of India’s websites, voters.eci.gov.in or ceotelangana.nic.in, and using the “Search Your Name in Last SIR” or “Search by Elector’s Details” option. This information is also available booth-wise in PDF format and with the BLOs. If your name appears in the 2002 voter list, you do not need to submit any additional proof documents to the BLO. It is enough to fill in the basic details in the “Elector Details in Previous SIR Voter List” column of your enumeration form — voter name, voter ID card number (if available), father’s or mother’s name, district, state, constituency, and booth number.
What if your name is not in the 2002 list?
Anyone currently under 40 years of age is unlikely to have their name in the 2002 voter list. To protect their voting right, such individuals need to confirm where their parents or grandparents held a vote in 2002. For this, the second column of the enumeration form must be filled in with the relatives’ details, including their voter card number, constituency, and booth number. Voters who lack these details can submit any one of the 12 official documents specified by the Election Commission as proof of their date or place of birth.
Important documents useful for verification include: identity cards issued to employees or pensioners by central/state governments, documents issued by banks/post offices/LIC, birth certificates, passports, educational qualification certificates, residence certificates, caste certificates (OBC, SC, ST), Aadhaar cards, or government-issued land/house allotment certificates. However, the final decision on whether to accept or reject these alternative documents rests entirely with the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).
If the BLO hasn’t visited you, or you want to submit online
The role of the Booth Level Officer (BLO) is extremely crucial in this entire process. If a BLO has not yet visited your home, you can find your BLO’s name and phone number through the “Know Your BLO” option on the voters.eci.gov.in website or the “ECINet” app, and contact them immediately. This is especially important for those living in neighbouring states and those who have changed residence since the 2024 elections — they must contact their BLO without fail.
On the other hand, those residing elsewhere also have the option of submitting the enumeration form online. The form can be submitted digitally via “e-Sign” on the ECINet app. However, for this, your mobile number must be linked to your voter ID card, and the spelling of your name on the voter card must exactly match the spelling on your Aadhaar card. If there is any mismatch, the digital sign will fail, and the form will then have to be submitted only in physical form.
Precautions in submitting forms; issuance of notices
Every BLO provides two enumeration forms printed with your photo details. One form must be filled out, a recent photograph affixed, signed, and handed back to the BLO; the other should be kept with you. If someone else submits the form on your behalf, that person’s relationship to the voter must be mentioned. The form must clearly state the voter’s date of birth, Aadhaar number (optional), mobile number, and the name and voter card details of the parents or spouse. A declaration must also be given stating that no false information has been provided.
After the draft voter list is published, EROs will issue notices to those whose details show discrepancies when mapped against the 2002 list, or whose relatives’ names are missing. Those who receive notices must appear for a hearing on the specified date and furnish age-based proof. Those born before July 1, 1987 need only submit their own details. However, those born between July 1, 1987 and December 2, 2004 must submit proof documents along with either their mother’s or father’s certificate, while those born after December 2, 2004 must submit proof documents along with both parents’ date/place of birth certificates.
Draft list review — key deadlines
Once the door-to-door survey concludes, the draft voter list will be announced on July 21. This list will be available with the BLOs or on the ceoandhra.ap.gov.in website. It is essential for every person to check whether their name appears in this draft list. If a name is missing, objections can be raised until August 20. Three types of forms are available for this purpose:
* Form 6: For those turning 18 by July 1 and registering as new voters.
* Form 7: For removing the votes of those who have died or migrated.
* Form 8: For cases where the name is missing from the list, or a vote needs to be transferred elsewhere, or errors need to be corrected.
All these objections will be resolved by September 18, and the final voter list will be released on September 22.
Also Read: Telangana Population Count: Population Reaches 4.35 Crore — Greater Hyderabad Overtakes Goa!
Carelessness could mean losing your vote!
The state currently has more than 4.16 crore voters. Amid claims of large numbers of fake votes, votes of deceased persons, and votes of those who have migrated, the process of removing such entries is moving swiftly. In this process, genuine voters who are careless also risk having their votes removed. Those who fail to submit enumeration forms, as well as those whose names are not in the 2002 voter list and who fail to submit the required proof documents, will permanently lose their voting right. Therefore, from the time the enumeration form is received until the final list is published on September 22, every voter must remain vigilant to protect their democratic right.