No problem for existing voters: Assam CEO on SR

The special revision (SR) of electoral rolls began in Assam on Tuesday, with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anurag Goel assuring people that the new mechanism will not affect the status of any existing voter.

- Biswa Kalyan Purkayastha

Assam CEO Anurag Goel

Goel said families affected by a series of eviction drives, conducted by the state this year, will continue to remain legitimate voters of Assam and their names will not be deleted unless they voluntarily apply for inclusion at a new address under the prescribed rules.

Importantly, entries of so-called D-Voters — individuals whose citizenship status is under adjudication —will be carried forward into the draft rolls without fresh verification unless a Foreigners’ Tribunal or court issues an order altering their status. Goel said nearly 90,000 doubtful voters (D-voters) exist, with a special provision for them, and they will be excluded from SR for now.

‘Assam is going in fora SR because the state is awaiting the final publication of the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC). “This is the first time Assam is conducting a special revision instead of the special intensive revision (SIR). SIR will only happen after the NRC is published,” Goel said.

He added that this will ensure that no elector is removed while the citizenship-linked NRC update remains incomplete.