Chandigarh: The draft electoral roll for all assembly constituencies in Punjab under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026 was published on Thursday, officials said, beginning a one-month period for claims and objections ahead of finalisation.
Administrative handover and briefings
Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra chaired a meeting with representatives of recognised political parties on Thursday at which the draft roll was handed over and stakeholders were briefed on procedures to seek additions, deletions or corrections, according to an official release.
During the meeting, officials outlined the prescribed forms for electoral updates: Form 6 for inclusion of names, Form 6A for Non‑Resident Indian (NRI) voters, Form 7 for deletion of entries and Form 8 for corrections or shifting of entries.
"Young citizens turning 18 by October 1, 2026 are eligible for enrolment," Anindita Mitra said.
How electors can check and update details
The CEO's office stressed multiple channels for voters to verify and update their records. The draft electoral roll has been made available on the CEO Punjab website (www.ceopunjab.gov.in) and on the Election Commission of India's citizen portal (voters.eci.gov.in).
For on‑ground assistance, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will be present at every polling station on 16 August from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm to help electors check entries and avail electoral services. In addition, help desks will be set up at District Election Officer (DEO) and Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) offices across the state to display the published draft roll and assist voters.
Timeline and next steps
Citizens whose names do not appear in the draft electoral roll, or who require changes, may submit claims along with the prescribed declaration and supporting documents from 13 August to 12 September 2026. The period is being observed under the SIR programme notified by the Election Commission of India.
- Draft roll publication: 13 August 2026
- Special BLO camp at polling stations: 16 August 2026 (10 am–1 pm)
- Window for claims/objections: 13 August–12 September 2026
- Online portals: CEO Punjab website and voters.eci.gov.in
Enumeration progress
As part of the SIR in Punjab, the CEO's office reported that enumeration forms for nearly 1.94 crore electors — out of a total electorate of 2.14 crore — were collected and digitised during the recent enumeration exercise. The published update did not quantify the remaining entries in the release provided on Thursday.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total electorate (Punjab) | 2.14 crore |
| Enumeration forms collected & digitised | Nearly 1.94 crore |
| Claim/objection window | 13 Aug – 12 Sep 2026 |
Practical advice for voters
Electors are advised to keep proof of identity and address documents ready when applying for inclusion or correction. NRI voters seeking enrolment should use Form 6A and check specific document requirements listed on the CEO portal. Those unsure of their polling station can verify details on the state CEO website or the national voter portal.
Local political party representatives were briefed on digital and offline channels to assist voters, including the Citizen Service Portal and the 'Book a Call Request with BLO' facility being promoted by the CEO's office.
Why this matters in Punjab
The SIR exercise is significant for Punjab where rural and agrarian voters form a large share of the electorate. Accurate rolls are critical for ensuring citizens' franchise — particularly first‑time voters who will become eligible ahead of the October 1 cut‑off — and for preventing disenfranchisement caused by missing or erroneous entries.
The state administration and election machinery have signalled a push to maximise coverage through digitisation and door‑to‑door enumeration, while scheduling targeted outreach at polling booths to catch residual omissions.
Electors with queries or who require assistance can approach their BLOs, visit DEO/ERO help desks, or use the online portals indicated above during the claim period.
