Assam SIR: BLOs to check for 'non-human', 'no image' entries

New Delhi: Amid claims that the voters' list in Bihar carried photographs of cats and dogs, the Election Commission has directed its field staff in Assam to check for 'non-human' and 'no image' entries in electoral rolls and replace them with proper photographs of registered voters.

In its instructions issued to the chief electoral officer of Assam, the poll authority said that "software-based" reports should be generated for 'black and white images', 'not to specification images', 'non-human images' and 'no image' entries.

"For replacement of such images, booth-level officer(BLO) field verification should be done and necessary applications - Form-8 along with photograph as per specification - should invariably be collected from the electors and a proper track record of such replacement should be kept," the EC order read.

Additionally, an EC official said that BLOs are also authorised to take pictures of electors as one option.

Regarding the removal of discrepancies and potential duplicate or multiple entries from the electoral roll, the commission specified that before the draft publication, all logical errors must be removed, addresses standardised, and the quality of photographs checked.

Concerning the use of notional house numbers, the Election Commission clarified that it will not affect the legal status of the properties involved.

"The purpose of allotting a notional house number is just to keep electors of one household in one polling station during the rationalisation of polling stations. In addition to allotment of notional house number, BLO should also mention the nearby landmark so that the house can be distinctly identified upon inquiry," the commission said.

Social media was abuzz with claims that during the Bihar special intensive revision of the voters' list, some managed to get pictures of dogs and cats into the electoral rolls to prove the flaws in the system.

On November 17, the Election Commission had ordered the 'Special Revision' of electoral rolls in Assam. According to the schedule, the final voter list will be published on February 10, 2026.

According to instructions issued by the poll panel for the state chief electoral officer, January 1, 2026, will be the qualifying date for the state to carry out the special revision.

According to officials, the special revision stands somewhere between the annual special summary revision and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

"It is, in a way, an upgrade of the special summary revision...instead of enumeration forms, booth-level officers will verify electors on a pre-filled register," a senior functionary explained.

"There are special provisions for citizenship in Assam. The verification of citizenship is already being done under the supervision of the Supreme Court and is in its final stages. Therefore, the special revision (SR) is being ordered in place of special intensive revision (SIR)," the official pointed out.