Punjab conducts statewide SIR camps to update voter rolls; Large voter turnout recorded; View Pics
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, June 7, 2026: In a major exercise aimed at ensuring the accuracy and inclusiveness of electoral rolls ahead of future elections, special camps were organised across Punjab on Saturday under the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision (SIR)-2026 programme.
The camps witnessed enthusiastic public participation as voters turned up in large numbers to verify their details, facilitate voter mapping and seek information related to electoral registration.
The statewide initiative forms part of the pre-SIR exercise being undertaken by the Election Commission to update voter lists, eliminate discrepancies and ensure that every eligible citizen is included in the electoral rolls while removing ineligible entries.
According to election officials, voter mapping with reference to the 2003 electoral rolls is progressing rapidly across the state. Punjab has already achieved approximately 84.62 per cent voter mapping and is now working towards crossing the 90 per cent mark in the coming weeks.
Special camps were set up at polling stations throughout the state, where Booth Level Officers (BLOs) remained available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to assist citizens.
The exercise focused primarily on identifying and mapping voters whose records are yet to be linked and verified under the ongoing revision programme.
In Sri Muktsar Sahib district alone, special camps were organised at all 753 polling booths spread across four Assembly constituencies. These included 177 polling stations in Lambi, 173 in Gidderbaha, 190 in Malout and 213 in Sri Muktsar Sahib Assembly segments.
Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Amit Panchal said the primary objective of the camps was to achieve 100 per cent voter mapping under the Special Intensive Revision programme.
He informed that out of the district's 693,828 registered voters, mapping of 640,880 electors, accounting for 92.37 per cent, has already been completed successfully. Efforts are now focused on mapping the remaining 52,948 voters.
Similarly, special camps were held at all polling stations in Moga district, where citizens availed themselves of various voter-related services. District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Sagar Setia said the exercise is intended to ensure that no eligible voter is left out of the electoral rolls and that inaccurate or duplicate entries are identified and corrected.
Election officials also announced revisions to the SIR-2026 schedule. Under the updated programme, Booth Level Officers will conduct door-to-door visits from June 25 to July 24, 2026, to collect voter enumeration forms and verify electoral records. Rationalisation of polling stations will also be completed during the same period.
The draft electoral rolls will be published on August 3, 2026. Claims and objections regarding voter entries can be submitted between August 3 and September 2, while their disposal will continue until September 28. The final electoral rolls are scheduled to be published on October 1, 2026.
Officials clarified that voters whose records are not mapped during the pre-SIR phase need not be concerned, as they will still be able to complete the process through documentary verification during the subsequent stages of the revision exercise.
The Election Department has also appealed to all recognised political parties to appoint Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to ensure transparency and facilitate smooth implementation of the programme at the grassroots level.
With thousands of voters participating in the special camps across Punjab, election authorities described the response as encouraging and said the exercise would play a crucial role in enhancing the accuracy, transparency and credibility of the state's electoral rolls ahead of future electoral processes.
