Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Electoral Officer Dr. Rathan U Kelkar has announced the appointment of four Electoral Roll Observers for 14 districts in Kerala to ensure the smooth and error-free completion of the intensive voter list revision process for 2026. The move is aimed at producing a voter list free from complaints.

Senior IAS officers have been entrusted with oversight responsibilities across the districts. M.G. Rajamanickam will supervise Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod; K. Biju will oversee Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram; Tinku Biswas will be responsible for Kottayam, Idukki and Ernakulam; and Dr K. Vasuki will be in charge of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha.

The observers will visit their assigned districts in three phases: during the notice period for receiving claims and objections; the phase in which Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) address complaints; and the final phase, when Booth Level Officers (BLOs) verify the working copy and the revised electoral roll is published.

During their first visit, the observers will hold meetings with Members of Parliament, Members of the Legislative Assembly and representatives of recognised political parties to hear grievances and ensure their active participation in the revision process. Meetings with the general public will also be organised on pre-announced dates.

In addition, the observers will scrutinise reports and explanations submitted by District Election Officers (DEOs) for constituencies where the number of additions or deletions exceeds one per cent of the district average, or three per cent in any Assembly constituency.

Dr Kelkar stated that comprehensive measures are being implemented at all levels to ensure a complaint-free voter list revision, without the exclusion of any eligible voter and with all discrepancies duly rectified.