Hyderabad: The Election Commission of India announced that the Special Intensive Revision will begin in Telangana from April as part of a nationwide exercise to cleanse electoral rolls.
Officials said they would enforce strict norms during the Special Intensive Revision and remove votes if individuals fail to furnish valid proof. Authorities have already accelerated preparatory work and intensified voter data collection across the State.
In 2002, Telangana had 2.20 crore voters. The number has now risen to 3.40 crore. Officials recorded an increase of 1.2 crore voters over the period. They will compare the 2002 electoral roll with the 2026 updated list during the Special Intensive Revision.
Booth Level Officers and Booth Level Agents will play a key role in the mapping process. They will carry out ground-level verification and oversee roll mapping across constituencies.
Mapping drive gathers pace under Special Intensive Revision
The Election Commission recently released final electoral rolls in several states after completing the Special Intensive Revision. It directed remaining states to stay prepared. Consequently, officials in Telangana intensified arrangements.
Teams began verifying whether voters listed earlier still reside at the same address. They are checking if voters shifted within the same constituency, moved to another constituency, migrated to a different district or state, or died.
So far, officials completed mapping of nearly two crore voters. Mapping of another 1.4 crore voters remains pending. Authorities are training Assistant Electoral Registration Officers online on roll preparation, updation and maintenance.
They are issuing clear guidelines on enrolling all eligible citizens, deleting ineligible names and correcting voter details. In Hyderabad, officials identified lakhs of deceased persons whose names remain on the rolls.
If individuals hold voting rights in two places, officials will remove one entry and offer an option to retain the vote at a single location. Authorities will also seek options from voters who hold registration in Andhra Pradesh or other states.
Only those who produce documents specified by the Election Commission will retain voting rights. Voters must submit Aadhaar card, driving licence, family details and other prescribed documents to establish Indian citizenship.
Nearly 45 per cent of the State’s population resides in urban areas. Officials described the Special Intensive Revision as a major challenge in cities. Apartment residents, IT employees, professionals, traders and daily wage workers often leave early for work.
Officials said reluctance towards the electoral process and indifference to voter lists complicate data collection in urban pockets. They termed the Special Intensive Revision a demanding exercise for field staff.