Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer speaks to DEOs over low mapping

Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), K. Ravi Kumar, on Monday (June 1, 2026) directed all District Election Officers (DEOs) to ensure the completion of the mapping of voters from the 2003 electoral rolls by June 15.

He asserted that mapped voters will not be required to submit any additional documents during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. He added that if a voter remains unmapped, their name will not be deleted from the draft voter list; however, after a notice from the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), such voters must submit documents related to self/mother or father/both mother and father/grandparents, based on their date of birth.

The final publication of the voter list will take place on October 7, 2026, following the disposal of all claims and objections by the ERO. Mr. Kumar was conducting the review of the State’s preparations for the scheduled SIR set to begin on June 20, while interacting online from the Nirvachan Sadan in Ranchi.

The CEO asserted that officials must conduct a rigorous review of the mapping exercise and noted that if voters are incorrectly mapped, they will appear on a list categorised as “Anomaly Cases,” requiring the ERO to conduct a hearing and issue appropriate orders.

“Such voters, much like those who remain unmapped, will be required to undergo the full SIR process. Officials have to make every effort to establish contact with each voter appearing on the list of unmapped voters. Additionally, they have to identify and categorise voters falling under the categories of ‘Absent’, ‘Shifted’, ‘Deceased’, ‘Duplicate entries’, or ‘Non-citizens’,” Mr. Kumar said.

He pointed out that the primary objective of the SIR is to ensure that no eligible Indian citizen is left out of the voter list. He pointed out that officials must ensure that the SIR process is strictly reserved for eligible Indian citizens and that non-Indians are unable to participate in the procedure.

The Jharkhand CEO reviewed the progress of the ongoing mapping activities related to the electoral rolls. He directed that the names and contact numbers of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) be included in the enumeration forms, emphasising that no changes to the BLOs should be made after June 15.

During the review, he interacted with BLOs through video conferencing who had earlier reported low mapping figures. He issued instructions to the officials to undertake necessary capacity-building measures for them. Mr. Kumar directed that the pendency of Forms 6, 7, and 8 be brought down to zero in all districts by June 15.