THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, MAY 29, 2026

In a major exercise aimed at ensuring accuracy and transparency in the electoral process, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer R.S. Gopalan on Friday announced that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will begin door-to-door visits across the state from May 30 to June 28 as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The CEO informed that BLOs will distribute two pre-printed enumeration forms to every voter during the verification drive. One completed form will be collected by the BLO, while the second copy will remain with the voter as an acknowledgement receipt. Citizens will also have the option to download and upload the forms online through the Election Commission portal, making the process more accessible and convenient.

Officials stated that the draft voter list will be published on July 5. Citizens can submit claims and objections until August 4, while the disposal of claims and objections will continue until September 2. The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on September 6.

Highlighting the scale of the exercise, authorities revealed that mapping of 3,16,03,323 voters has already been completed, covering 94.61 per cent of the electorate in the state. During the mapping process, BLOs identified nearly 17 per cent logical errors, which will now be corrected during the revision exercise to strengthen the integrity of the voter database.

Gopalan stressed the importance of transparency and active political participation in the revision process. Political parties have already appointed more than 33,000 Booth Level Agents to assist in the exercise and ensure smooth coordination at the grassroots level. Altogether, 45,255 BLOs will conduct extensive house-to-house visits across Odisha during the month-long campaign.

To protect field staff from extreme summer conditions, BLOs have been instructed to conduct visits between 6 AM and 11 AM and again from 4 PM to 7 PM. Authorities also assured that police and election officials will provide immediate assistance if BLOs encounter any difficulties during field operations.

The statewide revision drive is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring an accurate, inclusive and error-free electoral roll ahead of future elections in Odisha.