The Election Commission of India (ECI) has mandated a special drive to re-enrol eligible voters whose names were deleted from the electoral rolls during the recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. This directive aims to address widespread concerns following significant deletions across several states, ensuring that eligible citizens are not deprived of their right to vote in future elections.

Reports indicate that millions of voters were removed from the electoral rolls during the SIR process. In Bihar, over 4.7 million names were deleted, while West Bengal saw nearly 9.1 million names removed. These deletions have left numerous citizens in a state of uncertainty, often requiring them to undertake extensive paperwork and repeated attempts to prove their eligibility and citizenship.

The ECI's instruction requires Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to revisit the lists of deleted voters. BLOs are expected to contact at least 20 to 25 electors each week, with the goal of completing this re-enrolment exercise within approximately one month. This focused effort is designed to identify and re-add individuals who were erroneously removed but remain eligible to vote.

The directive was formally conveyed through a written instruction on September 29 and subsequently reiterated during a video conference with all state Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs). The special drive extends to states where the SIR exercise has concluded, including places like Goa, where 97 eligible individuals were reportedly omitted from the final electoral roll.

This initiative underscores the Election Commission's commitment to maintaining accurate voter lists and upholding electoral integrity, ensuring that all eligible citizens have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process ahead of the 2025 and 2026 Assembly elections.