Thiruvananthapuram: The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Kerala has formally requested the Election Commission of India to extend the ongoing drastic reform of the state’s voter list until the completion of the local body elections. The demand comes amid deliberations in recent all-party meetings, where major political parties highlighted the need for accuracy and transparency in electoral rolls ahead of the polls.
The reform initiative follows the Election Commission’s earlier decision to implement extreme voter list reforms in various states, starting with Bihar, to ensure up-to-date and accurate electoral rolls. Subsequently, Chief Electoral Officers from all states were summoned to Delhi for high-level discussions and guidance on the nationwide implementation of these measures. Kerala became one of the first states to initiate the process under this directive.
The reform, locally referred to as the Systematic Intensive Revision (SIR) process, was first launched in Attappadi, with Palakkad district emerging as a key testing ground due to the rapid pace of the initiative. The District Collector of Palakkad instructed Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to compare and verify the voter lists within a two-day timeframe. Officials were tasked with analyzing and reconciling electoral data spanning from 2002 to 2025, identifying discrepancies, and reporting the findings directly to the Collector.
Given the intensive nature of the SIR process and the need for meticulous verification, the Chief Electoral Officer has requested that the reform exercise be allowed to continue uninterrupted until local elections conclude. The move aims to prevent any inaccuracies in voter records from affecting the democratic process, ensuring that all eligible voters are correctly listed and that electoral integrity is maintained.
Political observers note that the CEO’s appeal reflects both the administrative challenges and political sensitivities surrounding voter list management in Kerala. With local body elections on the horizon, parties across the spectrum have emphasized the importance of transparent and credible electoral rolls, recognizing that any errors or omissions could lead to disputes or mistrust in the election process.
The Election Commission is expected to review the request and issue formal guidelines on whether the extreme voter list reform will be allowed to extend through the local election period, ensuring that Kerala’s elections proceed with updated and verified voter data.