Left out of Kerala’s draft electoral roll? Here’s how the Govt plans to help
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has directed district collectors across the state to put in place immediate support mechanisms for eligible voters whose names are missing from the draft electoral roll published under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025.
In an official order dated December 26, the government underscored that the inclusion of every eligible voter is fundamental to a democratic system and stressed that no deserving citizen should be excluded from the electoral process.
As part of the directive, help desks will be established at village offices to assist individuals who are not included in the draft voter list for various reasons. Where village offices lack adequate infrastructure, alternative nearby buildings are to be arranged to ensure uninterrupted public access.
Each help desk will be staffed by two officers temporarily to provide guidance and support to affected voters. District collectors have been tasked with overseeing the arrangements and ensuring the smooth implementation of the initiative.
The order follows Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s announcement earlier this week, made after a cabinet meeting, amid rising concerns that a significant number of eligible voters may have been excluded during the revision exercise conducted by the Election Commission.
The Chief Minister revealed that over 24 lakh people were left out of the draft electoral roll in Kerala, prompting the government to step in with extensive outreach measures.
To strengthen the effort, the services of Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, and Kudumbashree volunteers will be utilised to reach voters in hilly regions, coastal belts, and other remote or underserved areas. These workers will assist village officers in identifying eligible voters and facilitating the inclusion process.
Additionally, special awareness campaigns will be organised in educational institutions to ensure students who have completed 18 years of age are registered as voters. Awareness programmes will also be conducted to guide young and first-time voters through the registration process.
The government has reiterated its commitment to conducting door-to-door outreach in difficult-to-access regions to ensure that every eligible voter in Kerala is accounted for before the final electoral roll is published.