Bhubaneswar: In a significant move to ensure a transparent and error-free revision of electoral rolls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed 10 senior IAS officers as Electoral Roll Observers for Odisha to supervise the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls across the state.
The appointments have been made to strengthen the electoral roll revision process by ensuring that every eligible voter is included while preventing the inclusion of ineligible names. The observers will conduct extensive field visits, interact with public representatives and political parties, and closely monitor districts where abnormal additions or deletions in voter lists are reported.
The assignments were issued by Additional Chief Electoral Officer-cum-Special Secretary Sushant Kumar Mishra, who allocated specific districts to each observer.
Ten Senior IAS Officers Assigned District-Wise Responsibilities
Under the Election Commission’s directive, the observers have been entrusted with monitoring electoral roll revision across different regions of Odisha.
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The district-wise deployment is as follows:
- Rajesh Prabhakar Patil – Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada and Jajpur
- Aravind Agrawal – Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj
- Balwant Singh – Kalahandi, Balangir and Nuapada
- V. Parameswaran – Subarnapur, Boudh and Kandhamal
- Bijay Ketan Upadhyaya – Deogarh, Sambalpur and Bargarh
- D. Prasanna Kumar Reddy – Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada
- Sudhanshu Mohan Samal – Cuttack, Dhenkanal and Angul
- Rashmita Panda – Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh and Bhubaneswar
- Mohammed Sadiq Alam – Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri
- Sangram Keshari Mahapatra – Keonjhar, Sundargarh and Jharsuguda
The observers will supervise the revision exercise in their allotted districts throughout the Special Intensive Revision period.
Observers to Conduct Multiple Field Visits
According to the Election Commission’s directions, each Electoral Roll Observer will visit the assigned districts at least three times during the revision exercise.
Their inspections will not be limited to district headquarters. Instead, they will conduct field visits across polling stations located in different Assembly constituencies to assess the progress of the revision process at the grassroots level.
During these visits, the observers will hold meetings with:
- Members of Parliament (MPs)
- Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs)
- Representatives of recognised political parties
- Election officials
- Members of the public
The observers will also hear complaints and grievances related to electoral rolls directly from citizens to ensure prompt resolution of issues.
Special Focus on Unusual Additions and Deletions
A key responsibility assigned to the observers is the scrutiny of constituencies where additions or deletions in the electoral roll exceed prescribed thresholds.
The Election Commission has directed them to closely examine Assembly constituencies where:
- Deletions or additions exceed 1% of the district average, or
- Changes exceed 3% in an individual Assembly constituency.
These cases will be reviewed based on reports submitted by the respective District Election Officers (DEOs), after which the observers will conduct field verification wherever necessary.
Detailed Reports to be Submitted to CEO Odisha
Following every inspection, the observers will prepare comprehensive reports highlighting their findings, observations and recommendations.
These reports will be submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Odisha, who will review the progress of the Special Intensive Revision across the state.
The Chief Electoral Officer has reiterated that the entire exercise must be conducted with complete transparency and fairness.
Officials have been instructed to ensure that:
- No eligible voter is left out of the electoral roll.
- No ineligible person is included.
- The revision process remains transparent, impartial and legally compliant.
Draft Electoral Roll on July 5
The Election Commission has also announced the timeline for the Special Intensive Revision.
As per the schedule:
- Draft Electoral Roll Publication: July 5, 2026
- Claims and Objections Period: July 5 to August 4, 2026
Eligible citizens will be able to submit applications using the prescribed forms:
- Form 6: Inclusion of new voters
- Form 7: Deletion of names from the electoral roll
- Form 8: Correction or updating of existing voter details
The Election Commission has urged all eligible citizens to verify their details once the draft electoral roll is published and submit claims or objections, if required, within the stipulated timeline.
Strengthening Electoral Integrity
The appointment of senior IAS officers as Electoral Roll Observers reflects the Election Commission’s focus on maintaining the integrity, transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
Through regular inspections, public interactions and detailed monitoring, the Commission aims to ensure that Odisha’s electoral rolls remain accurate, inclusive and free from discrepancies ahead of future elections.
