The EC’s directive aims to ensure transparency and allow political parties to verify and raise objections before the draft voter lists are finalized. Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of the 12 states and UTs have been instructed to provide these lists at the booth level, covering voters whom Booth Level Officers (BLOs) could not contact despite three separate attempts.

“The move will help parties identify voters who have died, shifted, or are otherwise absent, thereby improving the accuracy of the electoral rolls,” an EC official said. This process is expected to enhance voter verification and reduce errors in the final lists.

A similar procedure was successfully implemented during the Bihar SIR, the commission noted, ensuring political parties had early access to information on voter discrepancies. Officials emphasized that this step is part of the EC’s broader effort to maintain accurate and updated electoral rolls ahead of upcoming elections.

The SIR process covers nine states, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, and three Union Territories. By sharing preliminary lists with BLAs, the EC seeks to involve parties actively in the verification process, thereby minimizing errors in the final electoral rolls.

The draft lists will be published on December 16, after which parties and citizens can submit objections and corrections. The final voter lists are expected to be ready in early 2026, providing a verified and updated electoral database for all upcoming elections.

This step is part of the EC’s continued effort to strengthen the integrity of India’s electoral system, ensuring transparent, accurate, and inclusive voter rolls across all states and Union Territories.