SIR Roll Observer Urges Political Parties To Cooperate

Visakhapatnam district roll observer and director of tribal welfare S. Bhargavi on Monday urged recognised political parties to cooperate in preparing a transparent electoral roll as part of the Election Commission’s special intensive revision (SIR)-2026.

Chairing a review meeting at the district collectorate with district collector M. Abhishek Kishore, electoral registration officers and representatives of recognised political parties, Bhargavi said objections to the draft electoral roll should be submitted in writing along with supporting documents to facilitate verification and corrective action.

She directed officials to intensify enrolment of 18-19-year-old first-time voters and conduct special registration drives to include eligible youth in the electoral rolls. Officials were also asked to expedite field verification of deceased, migrated and non-responsive voters.

The meeting reviewed the status of draft roll publication, issuance and collection of enumeration forms, deletion of ineligible voters, notices issued to non-respondents and disposal of Forms 6, 7 and 8.

Bhargavi said Visakhapatnam had recorded better voter enumeration than several other districts and asked officials to further improve registration. She said any one of the 11 identity documents approved by the Election Commission could be accepted for voters whose identities had not yet been mapped.

Abhishek Kishore said applications received through Form 6 from previously deleted, absent or migrated voters should be thoroughly verified with documentary proof. He also asked political parties to appoint booth-level agents for the 163 newly established polling stations.

He assured that action would be taken on written complaints against booth level officers if they failed to cooperate.

Officials said only 4,787 voters had been registered so far out of an estimated 1,04,866 eligible voters in the 18-19 age group, highlighting the need for an intensive youth enrolment campaign.