Verification notices have been issued to 58 lakh people in the second phase of voter list revision in Odisha. According to Chief Electoral Officer S Gopalan, these notices are for correction or clarification in records.
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [भारत]July 22 (ANI): Taking forward the second phase of voter list revision, the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha, S Gopalan has started issuing verification notices to around 58 lakh people whose records require further clarification or correction.
Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, S Gopalan explained how these notices have been distributed based on different administrative criteria, and also gave details of the process. He said, “The latest information regarding SIR is that the second phase is going on. We have prepared notices for about 58 lakh people included in the draft rule.”
Throwing light on the exact classification of notices sent at this stage, he said, “There are two types of notices. One is for those people whom we could not trace under the 2002 rule, those who could not be mapped. Those people have been requested to submit any prescribed documents.”
“The remaining 46,000 people have been issued notices for minor mistakes in their entries. Even if a person fails to submit any papers, all cases will be decided by the ERO on merits, and people are not required to appear in person for the hearing,” S Gopalan said.
More than 20 lakh voters have already gone out
Earlier this month, around 8.32 lakh dead voters, 10.07 lakh transferred or permanently absent voters, and 1.58 lakh duplicate registrations were removed from the draft voter list in Odisha.
Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sushant Kumar Mishra said around 14,000 voters could not be included as their enumeration forms were not received back. He said, “The first category is of those who are dead or deceased. About 8.32 lakh voters are dead, so their names have been removed. Another 10.07 lakh voters have either shifted or are permanently absent. There is another category where voters have registered at two different places or more than one place. About 1.58 lakh voters are registered at more than one place. In the case of about 14,000 voters, “We could not get the enumeration forms back. That is why we could not include them in the draft list.”
Deadline for claims and objections continues
Sushant Kumar Mishra said that eligible voters can file claims and objections till August 4, while the hearing on applications will be completed by September 2. He said, “For these people, we have one more month during which they can submit their claims and objections, and the hearing will be completed by September 2. We have two months during which they can provide information, submit applications, and raise any claims or objections. The period for raising claims and objections will be till August 4.”
The draft voter list was published on July 5, 2026. State officials have said the exercise is part of a transparent and inclusive effort to maintain an updated voter database. The final voter list of Odisha is scheduled to be published on September 6 after thorough verification of all claims and objections. (ANI)
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