Voter List Updation Drive Begins in Uttarakhand

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand Election Department has launched a special voter list updation drive, giving citizens the opportunity to add, delete or correct their names ahead of the upcoming Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Our correspondent reports that the drive, which began this week, is aimed at ensuring that every eligible voter is accurately enrolled before the comprehensive revision process starts.

Election officials said the pre-revision window is crucial because once the Special Intensive Revision is formally notified, only new applications will be accepted while corrections will be processed later. A senior department official said, “People must use this window wisely. If they wait until the revision begins, changes such as name corrections or address updates will be delayed.”

Citizens who have recently moved residences, first-time voters who have turned eighteen, and those whose names appear multiple times in different constituencies have been urged to update their records immediately. Officials cautioned that duplicate entries may lead to legal complications and could result in disqualification until records are rectified.

The department said applications can be filed online using the Election Commission’s official forms. Form 6 is for new voter registration, Form 7 for deletion of duplicate or obsolete entries, and Form 8 for corrections of personal details. Applicants will require a linked Aadhaar number and a mobile number for verification. The portal also allows users to upload supporting documents digitally.

A district-level officer overseeing the exercise noted, “We are receiving a steady flow of applications from across the state. Many voters are using this chance to correct spelling errors, update marital-status changes, and shift their names to new constituencies. Our focus is to ensure clean and error-free rolls before the revision begins.”

Citizens in urban as well as rural areas welcomed the initiative. A resident of Premnagar in Dehradun, who recently changed his address, said, “This is a much-needed facility. I shifted last year, and this gives me the chance to update my voter information without waiting for the main revision cycle.”

Another resident pointed out the significance of the deletion process. “In many families, names of deceased persons remain on the rolls for years. This window should be used to clean up such entries,” she said.

The Special Intensive Revision is part of a nationwide exercise to streamline electoral rolls and enhance their accuracy before major elections. In Uttarakhand, preparatory work has already begun, with local teams verifying polling-station boundaries, checking for migration-related changes and coordinating with booth-level officers.

Election-management experts say the updation window is critical for maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. Clean rolls ensure smoother polling, fewer disputes and minimal errors during voter verification. They also emphasised that youth participation depends heavily on updated records, especially with a growing number of first-time voters.

The department has appealed to citizens to avoid last-minute rush. “If a name is missing or duplicated in the final rolls, the person may lose the opportunity to vote. Early updation prevents such situations,” a senior official said.

Mobile camps are also being planned for remote and hill districts to help residents with connectivity issues. Local officers will conduct awareness drives at schools, colleges, panchayat offices and public-service centres to encourage eligible citizens to register.

As the updation drive continues, the state aims to produce an accurate, inclusive and transparent voter list, ensuring that every eligible citizen retains their constitutional right to vote.