Full Breakdown
Odisha’s Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls: Numbers, Process, and Reactions
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Outcome of the Revision
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Odisha’s electoral rolls, carried out in two phases from May 30 2026 to September 21 2026, produced a final roll of 3,16,32,754 electors—1,61,30,319 male, 1,54,99,661 female, and 2,774 third-gender voters. This is a net decrease of 17,66,837 names (?5.3 %) from the pre-SIR total of 3,33,99,591 recorded on July 17 2026.
Background & Process
Enumeration forms were sent to all existing voters via Booth Level Officers (BLOs). 3,13,87,034 forms (93.97 % of the electorate) were returned; 20,12,557 (6.03 %) were not received and were omitted from the draft roll published on July 5 2026.
The draft roll removed 8,32,544 deceased voters, 8,08,205 permanently shifted voters, 1,58,118 duplicate entries, and 1,99,249 absent voters. During the claims-and-objections window (July 5 – August 19 2026), 2,55,996 claims were processed, resulting in 24,070 ineligible electors and 20,707 deletions under Form 7. Subsequent inclusion of eligible applicants added 2,90,497 electors, giving a net addition of 2,45,720 to the draft roll.
Data & Statistics
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Pre-SIR electorate (July 17 2026) | 3,33,99,591 |
| Draft roll (July 5 2026) | 3,13,87,034 |
| Final roll (Sept 21 2026) | 3,16,32,754 |
| Total deletions reported* | 17,66,837 (?5.3 %) |
| Total additions after objections | 2,90,497 |
| Net change vs. draft roll | +2,45,720 |
| Notices issued for verification | 58,36,392 |
| Unmapped electors (draft) | 12,98,779 |
| Logical-discrepancy notices | 45,37,613 |
\*Some outlets cite 20.56 lakh deletions; see “Conflicting Reports & Gaps.”
Official Statements & Responses
Chief Electoral Officer R.S. Gopalan called the exercise “accurate, inclusive, transparent and updated,” and urged voters to use Forms 6, 7, or 8 for any corrections. The Election Commission clarified that the SIR does not determine citizenship status, a point affirmed by the Supreme Court earlier this year.
Criticism & Opposition
- BJD – Requested an extension of the claims deadline, citing flood-related disruptions.
- Congress – Asked for a broader public-awareness campaign to help affected voters.
- Local allegations – In Bhadrak district, some Form-7 applications were alleged to target minority voters; no formal finding has been issued.
On-the-Ground Reports
Field officers noted the high return rate of enumeration forms as evidence of voter engagement. BLOs handled notice deliveries and verification meetings across the state.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The Hindu and New Indian Express report 17.66 lakh deletions, while NDTV and Scroll cite 20.56 lakh. Both figures stem from statements by CEO Gopalan but appear in separate releases; no independent audit has reconciled the difference.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The total number of voters after SIR process is 3,16,32,754 comprising 1,61,30,319 male, 1,54,99,661 female and 2,774 third gender voters,” — R.S. Gopalan
- “Following the disposal of claims, objections and other eligible applications, 2,90,497 electors have been included and 44,777 electors have been deleted from the draft electoral roll.” — R.S. Gopalan
- “It is only 6 per cent of the roll.” — R.S. Gopalan
- “Every case flagged during the notice phase was individually verified before a name was struck off,” — Nishant Kumar Yadav, deputy commissioner
What’s Next
The SIR is complete, but regular roll-updating continues. Voters whose names were deleted may appeal to the District Collector, then the Chief Electoral Officer, or submit fresh inclusion forms (Form 6). The Election Commission has affirmed that continuous updating will proceed throughout the electoral cycle.