Lucknow: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has intervened to put a stop to the rapid transfers of IAS officers in Uttar Pradesh amid preparations for the upcoming elections to the Legislative Council. This directive comes as part of the Commission’s efforts to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted process for preparing the electoral rolls for the Block Graduate and Block Teacher constituencies.
Election Commission Issues Schedule for De-novo Electoral Roll Preparation
The Election Commission has announced a detailed schedule for the de-novo preparation of electoral rolls for the Block Graduate and Block Teacher constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. The current members elected from these constituencies will complete their term on December 6, 2026. Consequently, a fresh voter list will be prepared based on an eligibility cut-off date of November 1, 2025.
Transfer Ban on District and Sub-Divisional Magistrates Until December 30
To safeguard the integrity of this crucial electoral exercise, the Commission has directed a halt on transfers of District Magistrates (DMs) and Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) across 72 districts of Uttar Pradesh until December 30, 2025. The order explicitly prohibits the transfer of officers and staff engaged in voter list preparation without prior approval from the Election Commission.
Constituencies Involved and Public Notification
The voter list preparations will cover five Graduate Constituencies—Lucknow, Varanasi, Agra, Meerut, and Allahabad-Jhansi—and six Teacher Constituencies—Lucknow, Varanasi, Agra, Meerut, Bareilly-Moradabad, and Gorakhpur-Faizabad.
On September 30, 2025, respective Divisional Commissioners issued public notices, marking the commencement of application submissions for voter registration.
Eligibility Criteria for Voters
Graduate Constituency: Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognized Indian university within three years before the eligibility date of November 1, 2025. Applications are to be submitted using Form 18.
Teacher Constituency: Applicants should have at least three years of teaching experience in a recognized educational institution (minimum secondary level) within the last six years before the eligibility date. Form 19 is required for applications.
Appointment of Assistant Electoral Officers
District Magistrates of districts forming part of each Graduate and Teacher constituency will serve as Assistant Electoral Registration Officers. Additionally, the Electoral Registration Officers of the respective Assembly constituencies will assist as officers for voter facilitation. Public notices provide detailed information about these designated officers.
Online Application Facility for Voters
To streamline the process and encourage wider participation, the Election Commission has enabled online voter registration applications for both Graduate and Teacher constituencies through the official website of the Chief Electoral Officer, Uttar Pradesh: ceouttarpradesh.nic.in
Election Commission’s Firm Stand on Electoral Preparations
The Election Commission’s order to freeze transfers of key administrative officers reflects its firm commitment to ensure a transparent, efficient, and uninterrupted preparation of electoral rolls. This move is expected to expedite the electoral process ahead of the upcoming Legislative Council elections, emphasizing the importance of administrative stability during election duties.
