UP Electoral Roll Revision: Voters Asked to File Claims by Feb 6; BLO Help Desks Activated

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: The Election Commission is completing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh, with February 6 set as the final date for filing claims and objections to the draft voter list. Special arrangements have been made to assist voters during the process.

According to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will be present at polling booths on every working day from 10 am to 12 noon. Help centres have been set up where voters can access the draft electoral roll, deleted entries list, and application forms related to voter registration. Instructions in this regard have been issued to all district election officers.

Alongside claims and objections, new voter applications are being accepted through Form 6. The CEO clarified that applicants whose names cannot be mapped with the 2003 electoral roll may still apply using any of the 13 documents approved by the Commission.

Identity mandatory for objections

The Commission has directed that any claim or objection filed through Form 7 for addition or deletion of a name must include verified identification of both the complainant and the person concerned. The applicant must provide their name, voter ID number, and signature. Notices will be served to both parties through the BLO, and decisions will be taken only after considering their responses.

Only a voter registered in the concerned assembly constituency can file Form 7. Claims and objections will be accepted until February 6, while the process of notices, replies, and decisions will continue until February 27. Eligible applicants who submit complete documents by the deadline will have their names included in the final electoral roll to be published on March 6.

Citizenship rules clarified

The Commission reiterated that only Indian citizens are eligible to be registered as voters. Nepali women who have moved to India after marriage but have not acquired Indian citizenship will not be eligible to vote. Those who have obtained Indian citizenship may apply. The form now includes an option to record a place of birth outside India. Children born in India to an Indian citizen father are eligible for voter registration even if the mother is not an Indian citizen but is legally residing in the country.

UP ranks high in BLO call response

Under the Election Commission’s “Book a Call with BLO” facility, officers are required to respond to voter queries within 48 hours. Uttar Pradesh ranks first among large states and second overall in responsiveness. Out of 236,000 calls received, over 210,000 have been answered, reflecting a response rate of more than 89%.

Only 1,412 calls — about 0.62% — exceeded the 48-hour response window. The national average pendency rate stands at 18.84%, compared with 32% in Kerala, 34% in Assam, 22.13% in West Bengal, and 15.5% in Maharashtra, according to official figures.