In a major update regarding the upcoming local body elections in Odisha, the State Election Commission (SEC), Madhusudan Padhi, has extended the door-to-door voter verification survey in three flood-affected districts.
The decision comes as part of the Commission’s efforts to prepare an accurate and error-free electoral roll.
The State Election Commissioner informed that the intensive door-to-door survey—which is being conducted in the state for the very first time—has been extended to ensure no eligible voter is left out due to recent flood disruptions.
Revised Survey Timelines
According to the SEC, the survey deadline across the state has been pushed to November 7. However, keeping the extent of flood damage in mind, specific extensions have been granted to three southern districts:
-
Ganjam: Extended by 2 weeks.
-
Gajapati: Extended by 1 week.
-
Kandhamala: Extended by 1 week.
Key Deadlines for Draft and Final Voter Lists
The State Election Commissioner outlined the roadmap for finalising the voter lists ahead of the elections:
-
November 7: State-wide completion of door-to-door verification.
-
January 1: Publication of the draft voter list.
-
February 15: Target deadline for the publication of the final voter list.
Election Timeline Targets
The SEC confirmed its target to complete the rural and urban body elections before the onset of summer:
-
Panchayat Elections: Targeted for completion by April.
-
Municipal/Urban Local Body (ULB) Elections: Targeted for completion by May.
The Commission re-emphasised that the door-to-door survey approach aims to eliminate double entries, rectify demographic errors, and deliver an entirely flawless voter list ahead of the local polls.
