Lagatar24 Desk
Ranchi: Jharkhand’s Chief Electoral Officer K. Ravi Kumar has said that the process of issuing notices and resolving claims and objections under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls is a crucial step toward ensuring the voter list remains accurate, updated and error-free, with applications and data related to name inclusions, corrections and other necessary actions being scrutinised during this phase.
Hearings for No-Mapping and Other Cases to Begin August 24
Kumar said hearings related to voters falling under categories such as no-mapping, logical inconsistencies and other related lists would begin from August 24, with the objective of ensuring that no eligible Indian citizen is left out of the voter list, while also preventing any foreign national or ineligible individual from being included.
Voters to Get Seven Days in First Phase, Additional Time if Needed
According to the CEO, voters falling under the no-mapping, logical inconsistency and related categories will receive notices issued by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) through Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Voters will initially be given seven days to submit the required documents after receiving the notice. If documents are not submitted within this period, BLOs will re-contact the voter and issue a fresh notice, granting an additional seven days to comply. The claims and objections period runs from August 5 to September 15, 2026, with resolution of all claims to be completed by the respective ERO by October 14, 2026.
Work Continues on Adding Eligible Voters and Correcting Records
Kumar said work is currently underway across the state to receive claims and objections, add names of newly eligible voters, and make necessary corrections to the voter list. Jharkhand voters whose names appear in another state’s voter list and who wish to transfer their registration to Jharkhand are being asked to submit Form-8 along with a declaration, following which their names will be added to the voter list of the relevant polling station. Efforts are also underway to ensure that voters belonging to the same family or household are registered under the same polling station.
Discrepancies in Applications and Data to Be Resolved
The CEO said errors and discrepancies found in applications and data collected during the enumeration phase are being addressed, with legal verification of applications and available data to be carried out through the notice and hearing process, after which eligible voters will be included in the final electoral roll. He stressed that active cooperation from voters is essential for the success of this process, and that eligible citizens need not feel any anxiety, with district election officers, EROs, AEROs and the CEO’s office fully committed to assisting every eligible Indian citizen.
Objections Invited Against Names of Foreign Nationals
Citing Article 326 of the Constitution, Kumar said only Indian citizens can be registered as voters, and appealed to political parties, BLA-2 representatives of recognised parties, and citizens to file objections through Form-7 if any foreign national is found attempting to register or has been included in the draft voter list. He added that such objections would be examined by EROs and AEROs based on submitted documents, with orders passed accordingly as per rules. He further appealed that no assistance be extended to any foreign national seeking voter registration, stating that anyone residing in a family through marriage or other means must first obtain Indian citizenship from the Union Home Ministry before applying for voter registration, and that applying for registration before acquiring citizenship is a punishable offence.
Helpline 1950 Available for Assistance
The CEO said voters can contact the Election Commission’s toll-free helpline number 1950 for any information or assistance related to notices, claims and objections, required documents, or the Special Intensive Revision process in general.
