In Delhi's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive, more than 3.3 million voters flagged for anomalies will receive verification notices solely in English. The decision highlights the Election Commission's language policy and on‑ground challenges faced by Booth Level Officers.

  • Over 3.3 million voters will receive notices only in English
  • 19.33 lakh names flagged for anomalies, 13.79 lakh classified as ‘unmapped’
  • Election Commission gave a language choice; English was selected

Background

As part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Delhi’s electoral rolls, more than 33 lakh names out of the 97.56 lakh draft entries have been marked for verification due to anomalies or being ‘unmapped’. The move aims to cleanse the voter database ahead of upcoming elections.

Why English Was Chosen

Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Prashant Kumar told The Hindu that "the Election Commission of India gave us the option of English or Hindi for generating notices; we chose English." He added that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have been instructed to explain the notices in the voter’s preferred language.

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Role and Concerns of BLOs

A supervising BLO from Mehrauli explained, "We already fill enumeration forms in English only. It would have been easier if notices could also be published in Hindi, as most people in my area speak only Hindi and are migrant workers whose children attend government schools." BLOs are primarily government‑school teachers, Anganwadi and ASHA workers.

Legal Framework

Election Commission guidelines empower state authorities to decide the language of electoral rolls, notices, and circulars based on demographic realities. For example, Karnataka issues notices in Kannada, English, Urdu and Marathi for specific regions, whereas Delhi’s CEO Ashok Kumar has directed that clarification notices be issued solely in English.

Process and Timeline

Recipients have seven days from the date of issuance to respond. Each BLO will state the reason for the notice, list required documents, and ask voters to appear before the designated Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant ERO. After delivery, BLOs upload a signed acknowledgment and timestamp on the BLO app. All objections must be resolved by 29 October.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that language choice in electoral communications can directly affect voter participation rates, especially among migrant and low‑literacy populations, potentially influencing future election outcomes in the capital.

"Language selection impacts voter engagement and trust in the electoral process," says election scholar Dr. Anita Rao.
Did You Know?: Delhi’s electoral rolls have previously been published in three languages—English, Hindi, and Urdu—depending on constituency demographics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can voters request notices in Hindi?
A: Currently, the Delhi CEO has mandated English‑only notices, but BLOs are instructed to provide verbal explanations in Hindi where needed.

Q2: Is physical appearance before the ERO mandatory if documents are submitted online?
A: Officials are reviewing whether online submission can make in‑person verification optional.