Chandigarh, Sept 12: The deadline for submitting forms under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Punjab concludes on Saturday, with voters across the state continuing to report difficulties in updating or retaining their names on the electoral rolls. Married women, individuals navigating matrimonial disputes, and migrant workers have experienced the most significant administrative challenges. Women who changed their surnames after marriage noted a lack of uniform provisions, with field inquiries often being referred to election supervisors for personal hearings.
State election officials affirmed that in several instances, voters were asked to delete previous entries and reapply with historical documentation, which created hurdles for those without post-marriage records or family entries dating back to earlier electoral rolls. Officials maintained that cases involving matrimonial disputes pose additional risks of voter omission when individuals are absent from listed residences during verification visits by Block-Level Officers. Migrant residents also cited issues regarding acceptable identity documents, as local guidelines require specific ancestral or residence records for enrolment verification.
Addressing the public concerns, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra stated that Aadhaar cards cannot be accepted as sole proof of citizenship or residence under Election Commission of India guidelines. She declared that the state election machinery remains fully committed to conducting the revision process with complete accuracy, adding that Block-Level Officers and Electoral Registration Officers are carrying out physical field visits to resolve complex verification cases directly.
