Odisha SEC to launch statewide door-to-door voter verification from October 26, rolls final by February 10

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JULY 21, 2026

In a major step towards ensuring free, fair, and transparent Panchayat and Urban Local Body (ULB) elections, the Odisha State Election Commission (SEC) has decided to launch a statewide door-to-door voter verification drive from October 26. The exercise, which will continue until November 7 after the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, aims to prepare an error-free and updated voter list ahead of the crucial local body polls.

The decision was taken at a high-level review meeting chaired by SEC officials, with district magistrates, municipal commissioners, and Municipal Corporation commissioners participating through video conference on Tuesday. SEC Secretary Santosh Kumar Dash said survey teams for the verification drive would be constituted by July 31 to ensure its smooth and timely execution.

Each verification team will include Booth Level Officers (BLOs), Anganwadi workers, and ASHA workers, who will conduct house-to-house visits to verify voter details, identify eligible electors, update records, and eliminate discrepancies from the electoral rolls.

The Commission said the revision process will conclude with the publication of the final electoral rolls for all wards across Odisha by February 10, laying the foundation for the conduct of the Panchayat and ULB elections.

As part of its election preparedness, the SEC has also decided to repair existing ballot boxes and procure additional new ones to meet polling requirements across the state.

In another significant initiative to strengthen electoral integrity, the Commission will introduce a de-duplication application to identify and eliminate duplicate voter registrations. The digital tool will ensure that no individual is enrolled in more than one constituency or allowed to vote from multiple locations.

The SEC maintained that the comprehensive verification exercise, coupled with technology-driven safeguards, is aimed at enhancing the accuracy of electoral rolls and reinforcing public confidence in the democratic process ahead of Odisha's upcoming local body elections.