Delhi's Pre-SIR Voter Mapping: Weekend Camps Verify Records Ahead of Electoral Revision
In New Delhi, a series of temporary camps have been established across the city, particularly on weekends, attracting hundreds of voters and their family members who arrive to verify their electoral credentials. At these camps, booth-level officers (BLOs) are meticulously mapping voters to their respective polling stations by cross-referencing electoral records from 2002 with those from 2025.
Proactive Preparations for Special Intensive Revision
This initiative is part of the preparatory groundwork for the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR), although a formal announcement of the SIR schedule in Delhi is still pending. A BLO, who chose to remain anonymous, explained, "During the SIR exercises in Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, BLOs encountered significant difficulties, including reports of some fatalities. In Delhi, however, the mapping process is being conducted in advance, using the 2002 electoral roll as a baseline reference."
Every weekend, special camps are organized throughout the city where BLOs verify records and map voters. They are also conducting house-to-house visits for this purpose. Another official highlighted that this early booth-level physical verification and mapping exercise is based on lessons learned from Bengal and UP, where such work only commenced after the revision process had begun.
"We aim to complete the preparatory work early. So far, on average, over 30% of verification has been accomplished," the official stated.
Voter Experiences and Mapping Procedures
Karan Aggarwal, a resident of East of Kailash, reported that a special camp was held in his locality over the weekend from 10 am to 5 pm, drawing dozens of voters for verification. "Since I was not a voter in 2002, I was mapped to my father's voter ID. My wife, who votes in the Greater Kailash constituency, was also not a voter in 2002, so she was linked to her father's voter ID details in UP. Despite that linkage, she will continue to be a voter in GK," he detailed.
SIR is an exercise designed to verify and update electoral rolls through surveys and document checks, ensuring only eligible voters are listed while removing names of the deceased, relocated, or otherwise ineligible individuals. To facilitate this, the 2002 electoral roll—the baseline reference for SIR—has been uploaded on the Chief Electoral Officer's website for public access and verification.
- Voters whose names appear in both the 2002 and 2025 rolls are required to fill out enumeration forms for verification.
- Those whose names are missing from the 2002 rolls are linked to their family members' IDs.
A BLO noted, "We make entries through the BLO app during the exercise. Some BLOs have completed up to 80% of the mapping exercise in their areas. This work will significantly ease the burden once the actual SIR commences."
Voter Anxiety and Discrepancies Uncovered
At the camps, anxiety among voters is palpable, according to BLOs. "Many people are concerned about the SIR, but we clarify that it is intended to make electoral rolls more accurate and reliable," another BLO remarked.
During verification, BLOs have identified several discrepancies:
- Some individuals who have permanently moved abroad still have their names on the voter list.
- Migrant workers often register as voters in Delhi but fail to delete their names after relocating elsewhere.
At the Ashoka Bindusar camp, BLOs have faced challenges in tracing registered voters due to such movement patterns.
Complaints and Community Support
Meanwhile, several voters have complained about receiving notices indicating their names may be deleted on grounds of having shifted, despite residing at the same address for years. John Dayal, a 77-year-old Christian political activist living in Link Apartment under the Patparganj assembly constituency, stated that a notice flagged his wife, Mercy M John, as having "permanently shifted," even though she has been at the same address for decades.
"We visited the ERO's office and submitted our representation challenging the notice, but we have yet to receive a response," said Dayal.
An official clarified that the updating of electoral rolls is a continuous process, and the family may have received the notice as part of this routine. He assured that the names of those who have not actually shifted will not be deleted.
In Sarita Vihar, over five special camps have been organized in the past month, according to Anurag Srivastava, president of the F-Pocket RWA. "About 35-40 people attended each camp. Some whose names did not appear in the 2002 electoral roll have been informed they will need to fill out required forms when SIR begins. The BLO assured them that assistance will be provided to ensure no voter is left behind. The RWA has also formed a team to help people during verification and mapping," Srivastava explained.
