The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a crucial exercise ahead of the 2027 Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections, presents a significant challenge for the Ludhiana district administration. Ludhiana continues to be the most populous and largest district in Punjab, necessitating meticulous planning and execution for the comprehensive update.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has set a firm deadline of October 1, 2026, for the completion of the SIR, placing considerable pressure on the entire administrative machinery to ensure timely execution of the demanding process.
Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain highlighted that the SIR requires exceptional attention to detail. Unlike routine updates, this exercise mandates a door-to-door enumeration of every household by Booth Level Officers (BLOs). This involves verifying existing entries and enrolling eligible new citizens. Jain noted that the district’s electoral gender ratio, currently at 893 females per 1,000 males, falls short of the Census-projected ratio of 939. This substantial gap of 46 points indicates an undercount of female voters, a demographic challenge the SIR’s house-to-house enumeration is specifically designed to address. Furthermore, the Elector-to-Population (EP) ratio of 675 suggests ample opportunity for new enrolments, particularly within the 18-29 age group, which comprises nearly 5.35 lakh potential voters in the district.
A special protocol is being implemented for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and service electors. The district currently has 16,887 registered PwD electors and 4,253 service electors, both categories requiring distinct procedures for enrolment and access to electoral services. These specific groups demand tailored approaches to ensure their inclusion and participation.
The administrative infrastructure has been mobilized for the SIR, with officials across 14 constituencies assigned specific duties. At the helm is the District Election Officer, supported by an Additional DEO. Each of the 14 Assembly Constituencies has an Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), drawn from the Punjab Civil Services (PCS) cadre. In rural constituencies, Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) are serving as EROs, while in urban areas, Joint Commissioners of the Municipal Corporation and senior Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) officers are undertaking these responsibilities. Each ERO is further assisted by two Assistant EROs (AEROs). In a significant directive from the ECI, seven additional AEROs have been designated per constituency, bringing the total number of officers involved in the SIR machinery to 70.
To ensure the smooth functioning of the support infrastructure, 12 dedicated nodal officers have been appointed. These officers will oversee various critical aspects, including grievance redressal, IT troubleshooting, media monitoring, BLO welfare, and legal matters. The establishment of a dedicated BLO Welfare Team aims to address field-level concerns raised by the thousands of BLOs conducting the door-to-door enumeration, thereby facilitating their work and ensuring efficient operations.
The enumeration phase of the SIR is slated to commence on June 25 and will continue for a month, concluding on July 24. During this period, BLOs will visit every ward and village within the district to conduct the house-to-house enumeration. Concurrently, the rationalisation of polling stations is also scheduled to be completed by the same date. The draft electoral roll is expected to be published on August 3, initiating a 30-day period for claims and objections from the public. The process for hearing and verifying these claims and objections will run until September 28, culminating in the publication of the final electoral roll on October 1, 2026, which will serve as the qualifying date for voter eligibility.
One of the BLOs involved in the exercise acknowledged the demanding nature of the upcoming two months, stating that they would strive to meet the deadlines despite the challenging and tedious task ahead. The BLO also indicated that personal plans have been put on hold to dedicate full attention to the SIR, underscoring its importance across the district.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
