Guwahati: The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Assam announced that a Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls has commenced in the state. The draft roll is scheduled for publication on November 12.




The exercise will include the removal of ineligible entries, including duplicate names, deceased electors and those who have permanently shifted, in accordance with the prescribed procedure, the CEO’s office said in a statement.




In a statement the CEO stated the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Assam, hereby informs the general public and all concerned stakeholders that the exercise for the Special Summary Revision of Photo Electoral Rolls will be undertaken in accordance with the instructions of the Election Commission of India, with the objective of ensuring accurate, accessible, inclusive and error-free electoral rolls and facilitating a smooth voting experience for all electors.




The statement added as part of this exercise, the rationalization, rearrangement and reorganization of polling stations will be carried out after 100% physical verification of existing polling station locations and the relevant parts of the electoral rolls.




The statement added the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) shall assess the requirement for the creation of new polling stations, ensuring that the number of electors attached to a polling station does not exceed 1,200, except with the prior approval of the Election Commission of India. Before proposing any new polling station, the sections attached to adjacent polling stations shall be rationalized, wherever feasible, to ensure equitable distribution of electors among polling stations at the same location.




The jurisdiction of each polling station shall be clearly defined and demarcated to avoid any overlap. Adequate care shall be taken to ensure that electors do not have to travel more than two kilometres to reach their polling stations or cross natural barriers. Polling stations shall preferably be located on the ground floor or at road-entry level to ensure accessibility.




Special attention shall be given to high-rise buildings, group housing societies, residential welfare association (RWA) colonies having common facilitation areas or community halls on the ground floor, and slum-dwelling clusters in urban areas. Extensive surveys shall be conducted to identify suitable locations for polling stations in these areas, in accordance with the Commission’s instructions No. 23/2023-ERS (Vol-III), dated 22 September 2023.




Immediately after assessing the requirement for additional polling stations, the EROs shall communicate the same to the respective District Election Officers (DEOs).




The statement stated the DEOs shall ensure 100% physical verification of all existing and newly proposed polling stations through designated senior officers. The verification shall assess the condition and suitability of the buildings and compliance with the parameters prescribed by the Election Commission of India for the smooth conduct of elections. The designated officers shall certify the physical verification.




Before finalizing proposals for new polling stations, the DEOs shall consult representatives of recognized political parties. The consolidated proposals shall thereafter be forwarded to the Chief Electoral Officer, Assam, for obtaining the approval of the Election Commission of India.




Any proposal for a change in the location of a polling station shall be submitted to the Commission only after 100% physical verification and inspection, along with the latitude and longitude of the proposed location.




The EROs shall also take necessary action, in accordance with the prescribed procedure, to identify and remove duplicate entries, entries of deceased electors and electors who have permanently shifted, through Form 7 and other applicable provisions.




All claims and objections received during the continuous updation period shall be disposed of before publication of the draft electoral roll.




The Office of CEO and the DEOs will interact with the political parties at regular intervals to update the status of SSR and to seek feedback for the same. The Chief Electoral Officer, Assam, appeals to all electors, recognized political parties and other stakeholders to extend their cooperation during the Special Summary Revision process. The exercise is aimed at strengthening the accuracy and integrity of the electoral rolls, ensuring convenient access to polling stations and enabling every eligible elector to exercise their democratic right to vote.




The rationalisation and rearrangement of polling stations will be completed by November 2, while the integrated draft electoral rolls will be published on November 12, the statement said.




The period for filing claims and objections will run from November 12 to December 11, and these will be disposed of by December 28. The final electoral rolls will be published on January 4, 2027.




All claims and objections received during the continuous updation period will be disposed of before publication of the draft rolls, the statement said.