On November 22, Chief Electoral Officer C Sudharshan Reddy stated that nearly 40% of Hyderabad voters may receive notices due to Special Intensive Revision (SIR) anomalies. Lakhs of voters in Hyderabad could be affected as officials expect a large number of discrepancies in urban areas. A pre-SIR mapping exercise in Telangana has already identified nearly 88 lakh anomalies, with the number expected to cross one crore after the completion of the enumeration process.
The CEO attributed the high number of anomalies in Hyderabad to discrepancies in urban pockets. Some of the anomalies being checked include name mismatch, age gaps with parents or grandparents, and multiple voters mapped with a single voter in the 2002 SIR list. To resolve these anomalies, voters may be required to submit documents establishing their relationship with the elector listed in the 2002 SIR records.
In other states, such as Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, different approaches have been adopted to resolve SIR anomalies. In Telangana, the exact process has not been formally announced. However, voters have been given personalized enumeration forms containing pre-filled details, and those who do not know their 2002 voter details can still submit the form and may receive a notice to submit supporting identity documents later.
The CEO clarified that an Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) cannot remove a voter’s name without issuing a notice, and voters who do not possess prescribed documents may still be able to establish their eligibility during the notice stage. This assurance is particularly important for elderly citizens who may not have birth certificates or school records.
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📰 Source: Siasat Gulf