No Eligible Citizen Should Be Left Out of the Voter List – Youth Participation Vital for a Healthy Democracy: Chief Electoral Officer

Jaipur : To review the preparations for the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of photo electoral rolls and other election-related activities, a meeting was held on Thursday under the chairmanship of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shri Naveen Mahajan at the Secretariat. The meeting was attended via video conferencing by the Divisional Commissioner of Bharatpur Division, all five District Election Officers of the division, as well as the District Election Officer and Electoral Registration Officers of Sirohi district.

Shri Mahajan emphasized that the primary aim of the SIR program is to refine and update the voter lists with complete transparency, ensuring that every eligible citizen can exercise their right to vote. He instructed that orientation programs must be organized for all newly appointed Electoral Registration Officers to familiarize them with the SIR process.

He also directed that help desks be set up at every level—from village panchayats to districts— and that the personnel assigned to these desks should be well-versed in the SIR guidelines and procedures.

Highlighting the mission of the campaign, the CEO said the core objective is to ensure the inclusion of every eligible voter’s name in the electoral roll. He instructed the formation of special inspection teams for random checking so that no eligible individual is excluded from the electoral list.

Shri Mahajan stressed the importance of making digital election platforms more youth-friendly, stating that “only through the active participation of youth can the vision of a vibrant and healthy democracy be realized.”

To ensure smooth implementation of the program, he called for the timely recruitment and training of necessary human resources, particularly at the booth level. He specifically instructed that no Booth Level Officer (BLO) post should remain vacant. Newly appointed BLOs should receive comprehensive training, and volunteers should be deployed alongside them to assist in the process.

He also directed officials to coordinate with all political parties for the swift appointment of Booth Level Agents (BLAs). Regarding polling station restructuring, he emphasized that rationalization must consider the number of voters, accessibility, distance, convenience, and availability of basic infrastructure.

Finally, Shri Mahajan instructed that Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities be widely utilized to effectively communicate the objectives and benefits of the SIR program to the general public, ensuring mass awareness and participation.