Agartala, Oct 1: Adequate preparations have been put in place to ensure that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is carried out smoothly without causing inconvenience to the general public, West Tripura District Magistrate Dr Vishal Kumar said on Thursday.

Addressing a press conference at his office in Agartala, the District Magistrate outlined the latest instructions issued by the Election Commission of India regarding the upcoming SIR process.

He said the revision process is scheduled to begin across Tripura from October 27 with the objective of ensuring that no eligible citizen is left out of the electoral roll and no ineligible person is included.

According to the latest ECI guidelines, the absence of a person's name from the draft electoral roll will not by itself result in deletion of the name from the final roll.

Dr Kumar further explained that if a notice is issued to a voter because of non-mapping of the person's details or due to a logical discrepancy, the individual will not necessarily have to appear physically before the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) for a hearing.

Instead, the concerned Booth Level Officer (BLO) will visit the voter's residence, collect the required documents and upload them on the ECI portal for consideration by the ERO/AERO.

In exceptional cases where the ERO/AERO considers a hearing necessary, the hearing will, on priority, be conducted online through a convenient and available mode of communication, he said.

The District Magistrate also said voters would have the option of authorising an adult member of their family to appear on their behalf at the hearing, wherever required.

He said District Election Officers would establish adequate helpdesks and special camps during the SIR exercise to assist voters who may require additional support, including homeless persons, workers and people residing in night shelters.

Dr Kumar also clarified that the declaration form accompanying Form 6 would be used only during the SIR process. Outside the SIR period, only the forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, would remain applicable.

The administration, he said, is taking all necessary measures to make the revision process accessible and voter-friendly while ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the electoral rolls.