Survey for local polls from Oct 26

Bhubaneswar: Odisha State Election Commissioner Madhusudan Padhi on Thursday announced that a door-to-door survey will begin on October 26 to prepare transparent and error-free electoral rolls for the 2027 Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections in the State. Addressing a press conference, Padhi stated that “the survey will be conducted to ensure that the electoral rolls are transparent, accurate and properly organised in view of the upcoming Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections. The personnel engaged for the exercise will visit every household from October 26 and collect the required information.”

He further added that information related to the voter list will be verified through the survey, and emphasis will be placed on inclusion of the eligible voters’ names in the list correctly. The survey and subsequent preparation of the electoral rolls will be completed within the stipulated timeframe. As per the schedule announced on Thursday, the draft electoral rolls will be published on January 1, 2027, allowing voters to verify their names and other details.

Voters will have 20 days to file claims and objections in case of errors, discrepancies or issues relating to names in the rolls. Specific forms will be used for rural, urban and municipal corporation areas to add names, correct details or delete ineligible entries from the electoral rolls.

Applications for inclusion of names or correction of details can be submitted through Claim Form 16 in rural areas, Form III in urban areas and Form VII in municipal corporation areas. Similarly, objections seeking deletion of names can be filed through Form 17 in rural areas, Form IV in urban areas and Form VIII in municipal corporation areas.

After publication of the draft electoral rolls, the claims and objections received will be examined at the level of the Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).