By Amrit Pal Sidhu #Babushahi Network
Nawanshahr, August 7: The first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR-2026) of electoral rolls has been successfully completed in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district, with election authorities achieving 92.50 per cent coverage of registered electors through the house-to-house enumeration exercise.
Out of a total 4,82,925 registered electors, Enumeration Forms of 4,46,702 voters have been digitised, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing electoral roll revision exercise being conducted under the directions of the Election Commission of India.
The figures were shared by District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh during a press conference in Nawanshahr.
Aulakh said the house-to-house enumeration phase was completed on August 3, with election personnel working continuously to achieve the targeted coverage.
“The successful completion of the first phase is the result of the dedicated and sustained efforts of the entire election machinery. The cooperation extended by political parties, the media and the general public has also played an important role,” he said.
36,223 Forms Uncollectable
According to the district administration, 36,223 Enumeration Forms could not be collected during the exercise.
The uncollectable cases include 7,338 electors reported dead, 20,342 permanently shifted to other places and 6,779 electors found absent. A substantial number of these cases relate to electors who are no longer residing at their registered addresses.
Officials said the remaining cases would be dealt with during subsequent stages of the SIR process.
The administration has now shifted its focus towards the publication of the draft electoral roll on August 13, 2026.
30-Day Window to File Claims and Objections
Copies of the draft electoral roll will be provided to all recognised political parties and will also be made available at the District Election Office, offices of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Booth Level Officers (BLOs).
The District Election Officer clarified that electors whose names do not figure in the draft roll will still have an opportunity to seek inclusion.
“There is no need for any eligible voter to panic if his or her name is not found in the draft electoral roll. The claims period will remain open for 30 days, from August 13 to September 12,” Aulakh said.
Eligible persons can submit Form 6 to the concerned ERO or Booth Level Officer during this period for inclusion of their names.
19,383 Unmapped Electors to Receive Notices
The next phase will focus on 19,383 unmapped electors identified in the district.
Notices to these electors will begin to be issued from August 13. Those receiving notices will be given an opportunity to establish their eligibility by submitting any one of the 12 documents prescribed by the Election Commission of India, including documents such as a birth certificate or educational qualification certificate.
After examining the documents and providing the concerned elector an opportunity to present their case, the EROs will pass appropriate orders.
The administration stressed that every eligible elector would be given an opportunity to establish their eligibility and that the process would ensure that no genuine voter is unnecessarily excluded from the electoral roll.
The District Election Officer appealed to voters to carefully check the draft electoral roll after its publication and immediately approach election authorities if their names are missing or any correction is required.
The entire revision exercise is scheduled to culminate with the final publication of the electoral roll on October 12, 2026.
Polling Stations Increased from 615 to 618
Alongside the SIR exercise, rationalisation of polling stations has resulted in an increase in the number of polling stations across the district.
The total number of polling stations has increased from 615 to 618, with three new polling stations being added in accordance with the Election Commission's directions.
Officials said the expanded polling infrastructure is expected to make voting more accessible and convenient for electors during future elections.
615 BLOs Among Teams Deployed
The District Election Officer commended the field teams for their sustained efforts in completing the enumeration exercise.
A total of 615 Booth Level Officers (BLOs), 62 Supervisors, six Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), three Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), along with other election officials and field staff, worked on the ground during the exercise.
“Achieving 92.50 per cent coverage reflects the commitment and hard work of our field-level election teams. We appeal to all stakeholders to extend the same cooperation during the remaining stages of SIR-2026,” Aulakh said.
With the first phase now completed, the district administration is preparing for the crucial August 13 draft publication, which will open the next stage of claims, objections and verification in the electoral roll revision process.