Chhattisgarh Launches Month-Long Special Drive to Enrol Voters Left Out During SIR Exercise

As part of a concerted effort to ensure all eligible citizens are registered to vote, Chhattisgarh's Chief Electoral Officer, Yashwant Kumar, has initiated a targeted campaign spanning the next month. This special drive seeks to enroll individuals who were overlooked during the recent Special Intensive Revision exercise.

Which concluded in February, due to circumstances such as temporary absences or relocation. The initiative also aims to onboard first-time voters, expanding the voter registry in the process.

According to Kumar, the special drive will cover 24 lakh individuals who were left out of the electoral roll. This includes those who have temporarily moved out of their polling stations or have not been able to update their information due to various reasons.

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Additionally, the drive will also focus on enrolling first-time voters. This includes 17-year-olds who will turn 18 within the next year, making them eligible to become voters. With this effort, the electoral commission aims to increase voter turnout and ensure that all eligible citizens have a chance to participate in the democratic process.

As part of its voter outreach efforts, the electoral commission plans to dispatch booth-level officers to homes twice a week, with the goal of engaging with those who may be overlooked. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, these officers will set up camps at polling stations during office hours.

Meanwhile, on Fridays and Saturdays, they will visit educational institutions to help register young and prospective voters. This targeted approach is expected to help bridge the gap in voter registration and increase voter participation in the state.

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Chhattisgarh had 2.12 crore voters, but only 1.87 crore made it to the rolls after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which concluded in February this year. The SIR exercise aimed to update the electoral rolls and remove ineligible voters. However, some individuals were left out due to various reasons.

The special drive will run for a month. With BLOs visiting homes twice a week and organising camps at polling stations and educational institutions.

With this initiative, the electoral commission is also sending a strong message that every eligible citizen deserves to have their voice heard in the democratic process. The drive is expected to be a success. And the commission is optimistic that it will help increase voter participation in the state.