Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 10: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday urged citizens across the state to make full use of special voter registration camps being held on October 10 and 11, stressing that completing enrolment formalities before the October 12 deadline is essential to safeguard democratic rights.
The special drive comes amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, an exercise that Fadnavis has defended as a necessary and long-standing mechanism to protect the integrity of India's democratic system.
“Designated polling stations across the state are hosting special camps this weekend to assist citizens who missed home visits by Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Eligible citizens — particularly young or first-time voters whose names are missing from the draft electoral rolls — have been urged to fill out Form-6 for immediate registration,” Fadnavis said.
He added that voters who had received formal notices during the ongoing SIR verification process could use the camps to submit alternative valid documents and resolve discrepancies.
“All claims, objections, and documentation processes must be finalised and submitted strictly before the October 12 deadline,” the Chief Minister said.
Defending the electoral roll revision exercise, Fadnavis recently said rapid urbanisation, frequent migration and demographic changes made periodic verification necessary to keep voter lists accurate and reliable.
The state administration has streamlined the weekend camps, describing the exercise as an extension of India's decades-old electoral tradition and an effort to ensure that no eligible voter is left out of the electoral rolls.
Citizens have been advised to visit their local polling stations to verify their names on the electoral rolls and complete pending formalities before the deadline.
Earlier, the Office of Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer S. Chockalingam had launched targeted voter registration drives and door-to-door verification campaigns across the state.
Operating under the guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI), election authorities have said they are committed to ensuring that no eligible citizen is left off the electoral rolls and that no ineligible entries remain.
According to a statement from the Chief Electoral Officer's office, BLOs have been deployed at campus locations to help eligible students complete application forms and address queries regarding the SIR process.
BLOs are also conducting home visits to identify eligible citizens missing from the draft electoral rolls and collect Form-6 applications after verification.
For residents who were unavailable during these visits, special voter registration camps are being held at all designated polling stations on October 10 and 11.
Citizens whose names appear on the list of absent or migrated voters, compiled during house-to-house enumeration, can apply for re-enrolment or correction. The official list of absent or shifted voters has been published online at ceoelection.maharashtra.gov.in for public verification.
The deadline for submitting claims, objections and new voter registration requests is October 12.
Citizens can apply through offline or online channels. The Chief Electoral Officer's office has urged residents to submit applications digitally through the ECI portal at voters.eci.gov.in or through the official ECINET mobile application.
The office has assured residents that Electoral Registration Officers will process all complete applications submitted with the required supporting documents for inclusion in the electoral rolls of their respective Assembly constituencies.