EC orders voter list revision in 17 states-UTs:List includes MP and UP; SSR vs SIR explained in 5 points

The Election Commission of India has directed 17 states and Union Territories, including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan, to conduct a Special Summary Revision SSR of electoral rolls. The Commission has sent letters to the Chief Electoral Officers of the concerned states and Union Territories. Under the SSR, new names will be added to electoral rolls and errors in existing entries will be corrected. Young people who turn 18 in 2027 will also be able to apply for inclusion. The order comes amid controversy and protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). What is the objective of SSR? According to the Election Commission, the objective of SSR is to keep electoral rolls up to date and ensure that no eligible citizen is left off the list. Special attention will be given to young people and first-time voters. Young people who turn 18 on 1 April, 1 July or 1 October 2027, in addition to those who turn 18 on 1 January 2027, will also be able to apply in advance. The Commission has directed officials to make efforts to receive applications from all eligible voters. SSR order does not mention a separate process to add names omitted during SIR The Election Commission’s order on SSR does not specify a separate procedure for adding the names of people left off electoral rolls during the SIR. However, under the SIR rules, anyone whose name is missing from the draft electoral roll can claim inclusion by submitting Form 6. The applicant must also provide the required documents. The name will be added only if the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) accepts the application after verifying the applicant’s eligibility. Number and location of polling stations to be reviewed Officials’ posts must not remain vacant; transfers also restricted The Commission has directed the chief secretaries of states and Union Territories to ensure that Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), District Election Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are provided with adequate staff and resources during the SSR. The posts of CEOs, DEOs, EROs and AEROs must not remain vacant during this period. These officials cannot be transferred without the Commission’s approval. If a transfer is necessary, a proposal explaining the reasons must be submitted to the Commission. Under Section 13CC of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, officials involved in preparing, revising and correcting electoral rolls will work under the Election Commission’s control and supervision during this period. Voters’ addresses to be recorded in a standard format The Election Commission has directed officials to record voters’ addresses in a uniform format in electoral rolls. This will make it easier to identify voters’ homes and their respective polling areas. Assembly elections due in five states, including Uttar Pradesh, next year Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa are scheduled to hold Assembly elections in 2027. SSR will be conducted in all five states. The term of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly ends on 22 May 2027. The terms of the Assemblies of Manipur, which has 60 seats; Goa, with 40 seats; Punjab, with 117 seats; and Uttarakhand, with 70 seats, will end on different dates in March 2027. SSR schedule for these states and Union Territories to be announced later The SSR schedule for Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Delhi, Odisha, Sikkim, Tripura and Telangana will be announced later. ​