2 days ago
Patnaik Seeks SIR Review as Election Commission Verifies Voters
Naveen Patnaik wants officials to review how voter lists were updated.
His party, the Biju Janata Dal, says it opposed the process from the start.
The Election Commission has started visiting homes in places where the revision is finished.
Officials will check on people whose names were left off the lists.
If someone is still eligible to vote, officials will help them apply to be added.
Young people voting for the first time are included too.
In Odisha, the final list has about 3.16 crore voters.
The home visits are expected to take about a month.
BJD president Naveen Patnaik called for a thorough review of the Special Intensive Revision and reiterated his party’s opposition to it.
The Election Commission has begun door-to-door verification in 20 states and Union Territories where the revision is complete.
Booth Level Officers will check the status of voters left off the rolls and help eligible people submit Form 6 for inclusion.
The campaign also covers young and first-time voters; each officer must visit at least 20 to 25 households weekly, with completion expected in about a month.
Odisha’s final 2026 roll lists 3,16,32,754 electors, down from 3,33,99,591 before the revision.
- Who
- BJD president and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik, the Election Commission, and Booth Level Officers.
- What
- Patnaik sought a review of the electoral-roll revision as the Election Commission began door-to-door checks and assistance for eligible voters left off the rolls.
- Where
- The verification campaign covers 20 states and Union Territories where the revision is complete; Odisha is specifically highlighted.
- When
- The Final Electoral Roll 2026 for Odisha was published on September 21; the article also says Patnaik demanded the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation on September 25.
- Why
- The campaign is intended to verify the status of voters omitted during the revision and help eligible people seek inclusion.
BJD criticism
Election Commission action
Review of the SIR
BJD criticism
Patnaik said the SIR process should be thoroughly reviewed and reiterated that the BJD opposed it from the beginning.
Election Commission action
The Election Commission is conducting follow-up household checks to verify omitted voters and assist those found eligible with applications for inclusion.
Chief Election Commissioner
BJD criticism
On September 25, Patnaik demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, citing reported differences among the Election Commissioners.
Election Commission action
The article describes the Commission's verification campaign but does not report a response from Gyanesh Kumar to Patnaik's demand.
Key facts
- Campaign coverage
- 20 states and Union Territories where the SIR exercise has been completed
- Odisha final roll
- 3,16,32,754 electors
- Odisha voters by gender
- 1,61,30,319 males; 1,54,99,661 females; 2,774 third-gender voters
- Electors before SIR
- 3,33,99,591 as of May 17, 2026
- Enumeration forms received
- 3,13,87,034, or 93.97% of the electorate
- Forms not received
- 20,12,557 electors; they were excluded from the draft roll published July 5
- BLO visit target
- At least 20 to 25 households per week, with the campaign expected to finish in about a month
- Application for inclusion
- Form 6
Sources
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