The Election Commission has stepped up its voter verification exercise in Punjab as preparations continue for the upcoming Assembly elections. After completing the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), officials have now started reviewing pending records, duplicate entries and voter details before publishing the draft electoral roll.
Election authorities have urged citizens whose verification is still incomplete to finish the process on time. They said the upcoming draft voter list will give every eligible voter an opportunity to check their information and request corrections if required.
Nearly 20 Lakh Verification Forms Still Awaited
Officials said Booth Level Officers (BLOs) distributed around 2.61 crore enumeration forms across Punjab during the revision drive.
Out of these, nearly 2.41 crore completed forms have been collected so far. This means over 90% of voters have already responded. However, nearly 20 lakh forms are still pending, and officials are encouraging voters to submit them as soon as possible.
Verification Exercise Detects Several Record Issues
The ongoing review has also helped the Election Commission identify multiple irregularities in the electoral database.
Officials found around 1.19 lakh duplicate voter entries, while nearly 5.74 lakh registered voters were confirmed deceased. In addition, 4.12 lakh voters could not be located during field verification, and about 12 lakh voter records are yet to be mapped with verified details.
Authorities said these findings will help improve the accuracy of Punjab’s electoral roll before the elections.
Draft Electoral Roll to Be Released Next Week
The Election Commission will publish the draft voter list on August 13.
Once released, voters will be able to check whether their names and personal details have been recorded correctly. Anyone who notices an error can submit a claim, request a correction or file an objection during the verification window.
The draft roll will also be shared with recognised political parties for review before the final electoral list is prepared.
Special Camps to Help Voters Complete the Process
To make the verification process easier, the Election Commission has announced booth-level camps on August 16 across the state.
These camps will assist voters who have not yet completed the required formalities or need help updating their records. Officials will also continue awareness campaigns through digital platforms to explain the verification process.
Unmapped Voters Will Get Time to Verify Their Records
Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra assured voters that those whose records are currently unmapped should not worry.
She said their names will not be removed immediately from the voter list. Instead, election officials will give them an opportunity to submit supporting documents and complete the verification process before the electoral roll is finalised.
Electoral Roll Can Be Updated Even Without Documents
The Election Commission also clarified that missing documents alone will not lead to the deletion of a voter’s name.
If necessary, the concerned Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) will issue a notice and conduct an independent verification. If the voter meets the eligibility requirements and officials confirm their identity through the prescribed procedure, the name can continue to remain on the electoral roll.
The Commission said its focus is to prepare an accurate voter database while ensuring that no eligible voter loses the right to vote because of procedural issues.