SIR Voter List: Draft Voter List Publication on December 9 Check Name Inclusion and Exclusion Rules

SIR Voter List: The Election Commission is all set to publish the draft voter list on December 9th. Currently, there is a lot of curiosity and confusion among the general public regarding the SIR (Special Summary Revision) or the voter list correction process. Questions abound regarding whose names will appear in this list, whose names might be deleted, and what the subsequent steps will be. Based on the guidelines, a detailed discussion on these aspects is provided below.

Whose Names Will Definitely Be in the Draft List?

According to the Commission’s instructions, the names of the following individuals are certain to be included in the draft list:

• Enumeration Form Submitters: Individuals who have filled out and submitted the enumeration form between November 4 and December 4 will have their names included in the draft list.
• Voters from 2002: Those whose names appeared in the voter list of 2002 will be automatically included in the draft.
• Family Mapping: For new voters (whose names are in the 2025 list but were not in 2002), a mapping process applies. If the names of their father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother were present in the 2002 list, their names will also be included through this lineage mapping. They do not need to take any separate action.

Whose Names Might Be Deleted from the List?

During the door-to-door verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), names may be deleted in the following scenarios:

• Deceased Voters: If the BLO discovers during verification that a voter has passed away, that name will be marked and removed from the list.
• Persons Absent at Address: If the BLO visits a home and cannot find the person, their name might be liable for deletion. This generally falls into two categories:
  1. Individuals who are temporarily away due to work or have moved with their families.
  2. Suspected intruders or fake voters who have fled fearing verification and have not submitted the enumeration form.
• Double Entry: If the same person’s name appears in multiple places, it will be corrected. For instance, after marriage, many women have their names registered at both their paternal home and their in-laws’ house. In such cases, one entry will be retained, and the other deleted. It is important to note that filling out two enumeration forms by the same person is a punishable offence by law.

Who Will Be Called for a Hearing?

Voters may be called for a hearing in certain special cases involving discrepancies:

• Those whose names are in the 2025 list but not in the 2002 list, and no record of their ancestors or family members can be found in the 2002 list.
• If there is any mismatch or discrepancy between the information provided in the enumeration form and the Commission’s data.
• Individuals with inconsistencies in their names and data will be called to verify their documents.

What to Do If Your Name Is Missing or Deleted?

If a valid voter’s name is not in the initial draft list or is accidentally deleted, there are subsequent opportunities for rectification:

• Contact Officials: Valid voters who were not present during the BLO’s visit can contact the BLO or the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).
• Hearing and Proof: One must appear during the hearing to provide a valid reason (such as being away for work) and submit the necessary documents.
• Opportunity for Inclusion: If correct proof and documents are presented, there will be ample opportunity to include names or make corrections even after the publication of the draft list.

Citizens are advised to check their status immediately after the draft publication to ensure their voting rights are secured.