Election Commission Of India: SIR in T in April; state speeds up voter roll clean-up | Hyderabad News – The Times of India

Hyderabad: Ahead of a nationwide voter list clean-up, the Election Commission of India has scheduled a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in April for Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and several other states. While field-level preparations are already underway, the exact schedule will be announced in late March.Acting on the commission’s directive, Telangana chief electoral officer (CEO) C Sudharshan Reddy has accelerated pre-revision mapping and training for district election machinery. Mapping in Telangana has already progressed to 56%, with initial efforts concentrated on Hyderabad and its adjoining districts, the CEO said.

“Exact dates for the SIR will be announced one week or two weeks before April. We are expecting to get full instructions by the end of March,” Sudharshan Reddy told TOI. Officials noted the exercise faces its toughest hurdles in urban pockets due to the non-availability of electors at their residences. “A lot of people are not available in cities. Booth-level officers (BLOs) have been directed to visit homes on Saturdays and Sundays to reach those unavailable during the week,” the CEO said, emphasising house identification is essential before the formal revision begins, as the process is limited to a one-month window, with a possible one-week extension.While rural areas remain stable, BLOs are conducting rigorous house-to-house visits in cities to ensure no voter is missed.A comprehensive training programme was held at the CEO’s office in Hyderabad for 50 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) from Medchal Malkajgiri, Sangareddy, Rangareddy, and Hyderabad districts. The orientation covered statutory provisions, timelines, procedures for claims and objections, and the effective use of technology.Sudharshan Reddy instructed officials to ensure all eligible citizens are enrolled while removing ineligible entries in strict accordance with the law.Another round of training is planned for staff involved in the SIR, including guidance on forms and formats. Officials have been instructed to ensure there are no vacancies among BLOs and electoral staff ahead of the start date.