The Election Commission has yet to officially announce the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Kerala’s electoral rolls, a move that has already sparked considerable debate among political parties.
However, the on-the-ground reality for Booth-Level Officers (BLOs), who are responsible for compiling the voter lists, is already intense. According to election officials in Ernakulam, these officers are feeling the immense pressure of this extensive undertaking.
Specifically, BLOs across the district are confronting a monumental challenge: they must painstakingly compare the 2025 voter rolls with those from 2002. The 2002 list serves as the foundational reference for this revision. This comparison is far from straightforward, as explained by officials involved in the process. A key difficulty arises from the significant redrawing of assembly constituency—and thus polling booth—boundaries during the 2005 delimitation exercise.
BLOs have received both the 2002 and 2025 voter lists and are tasked with providing a booth-by-booth comparison by Saturday, September 20, 2025. However, it’s becoming apparent that this deadline will likely need to be pushed back. Officers are reporting substantial practical challenges in reconciling the booth-specific data, primarily due to the inconsistent booth boundaries between the two different years’ records.
Even though Ernakulam district still has 14 assembly constituencies, the same number as in 2002, the actual geographical map of these constituencies has been significantly altered since the 2005 delimitation.
For example, in 2002, constituencies like Vadakkekkara, Njarackal, Palluruthy, and Mattanchery existed. By the 2011 elections, these were replaced by Vypeen, Kochi, Kalamassery, and Thrikkakara, each with modified geographical areas. Furthermore, several panchayats were shifted between other constituencies. For instance, Aayavana, Pothanikode, and Paingottoor panchayats, previously part of Kothamangalam, are now included in Muvattupuzha. These boundary changes mean that the traditional booth order has been disrupted, making it incredibly difficult for a BLO to accurately cross-reference voter information between a 2002 booth and its current equivalent. A thorough, in-depth analysis of these geographical changes is essential for an accurate comparison, the official explained.
This extensive comparison project serves as a precursor to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) itself, which is anticipated to be announced in October. District Collector G. Priyanka recently facilitated a consultative meeting on Thursday, bringing together political party representatives and officials from relevant departments to deliberate on the upcoming SIR process.