Bhubaneswar: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has revised the schedule for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)-2026 of electoral rolls in Odisha, extending the deadline for filing claims and objections from Aug 4 to Aug 19. July 1, 2026 has been fixed as the qualifying date, the office of the chief electoral officer (CEO), Odisha, said on Friday. Under the revised schedule, the hearing and disposal of claims and objections will continue till Sept 17 instead of Sept 2. The final electoral roll will be published on Sept 21 instead of Sept 6.Welcoming the decision, the BJD said the extension would help safeguard the voting rights of lakhs of eligible citizens. A BJD delegation led by senior vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra had earlier met the CEO and sought at least a 30-day extension, arguing that the original timeline was inadequate for correction, inclusion and restoration of voters’ names.“The right to vote is the foundation of democracy, and no eligible voter should be denied this fundamental democratic right because of procedural limitations or an inadequate timeframe. The party hopes that the extended period will enable every deserving citizen to file claims and objections without difficulty and ensure that the final electoral roll is comprehensive, accurate and inclusive,” Mishra said.
