Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to undertake a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of its voters’ list for the first time in 23 years, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) R.S. Gopalan announced on Monday. The last such exercise in the State was conducted in 2002.
Gopalan said the final electoral roll, following the revision process, will be published on January 7. To ensure wider voter participation, the number of polling booths in Odisha will be increased from 38,000 to 45,000.
Responding to objections raised by political parties, the CEO clarified that detailed replies have already been provided—twice to the BJD and also to the Congress. He appealed to parties not to make baseless allegations that could “undermine the credibility of the Election Commission.”
The CEO also addressed concerns about voter identity cards, revealing that around 7,000 cards linked to Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers have been replaced, including 5,000 in Banki. He stressed that an EPIC number alone is not sufficient to cast a vote—a valid voter card remains mandatory.
The SIR process has drawn political attention nationally as well. Opposition parties recently staged protests in Parliament against the ongoing electoral roll revision in Bihar, alleging large-scale exclusions and demanding a discussion.
