Guwahati, Oct 16 The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Assam on Friday announced that a Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls has commenced in the state, with the draft rolls scheduled for publication on November 12.
The exercise will include the removal of ineligible entries, including duplicate names, deceased electors and those who have permanently shifted, in accordance with the prescribed procedure, the CEO’s office said in a statement.
The revision will be conducted under the Election Commission’s guidelines to ensure accurate, accessible, inclusive and error-free electoral rolls and facilitate a smooth voting experience, it said.
As part of the exercise, polling stations will be rationalised, rearranged and reorganised following 100 per cent physical verification of existing locations and the relevant sections of electoral rolls.
The rationalisation and rearrangement of polling stations will be completed by November 2, while the integrated draft electoral rolls will be published on November 12, the statement said.
The period for filing claims and objections will run from November 12 to December 11, and these will be disposed of by December 28. The final electoral rolls will be published on January 4, 2027.
All claims and objections received during the continuous updation period will be disposed of before publication of the draft rolls, the statement said.
The CEO’s office said Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) would identify and remove duplicate entries, names of deceased electors and those who had permanently shifted, using Form 7 and other applicable provisions.
The EROs will also assess the need for new polling stations, ensuring that the number of electors attached to a polling station does not exceed 1,200 without prior approval from the Election Commission.
Where feasible, sections attached to neighbouring polling stations will be rationalised before proposing new ones to ensure an equitable distribution of electors, the statement said.
The jurisdiction of each polling station will be clearly defined to prevent overlap. Care will also be taken to ensure that electors do not have to travel more than 2 km to reach their polling stations or cross natural barriers.
The EROs will communicate the requirement for additional polling stations to the respective District Election Officers (DEOs), who will ensure physical verification of all existing and proposed locations through designated senior officers.
The verification will assess the condition and suitability of buildings and their compliance with the Election Commission’s prescribed standards. The designated officers will certify the inspections, the statement said.
Before finalising proposals for new polling stations, DEOs will consult representatives of recognised political parties and forward consolidated proposals to the CEO for approval by the Election Commission.
Any proposal to change the location of an existing polling station will also require 100 per cent physical verification and inspection, along with the latitude and longitude of the proposed site, it added.
The CEO’s office and DEOs will hold regular consultations with political parties to share updates on the revision and seek feedback.
The CEO appealed to electors, recognised political parties and other stakeholders to cooperate in the exercise, which aims to strengthen the integrity of electoral rolls and ensure convenient access to polling stations for all eligible voters.
(PTI News)
