Assam’s Electoral Roll Overhaul Begins: Door-to-Door Verification Marks New Era of SR - Ground Report

Guwahati: The Special Revision (SR) of electoral rolls has begun in Assam with first ever door-to-door verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) as part of the Special Revision (SR) ordered ahead of the 2026

Assembly elections.This mild level revision is more intensive than the routine annual summary revision but less exhaustive than the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) that aims to update the voter list with a streamlined citizens in a friendly approach.The Election Commission of India (ECI) has set January 1, 2026 as the qualifying date for this SR. The final electoral roll will be published on February 10, 2026.

What Makes Special Revision Different From SIR

Unlike previous years where voters had to fill enumeration forms and often visit designated election offices, in SR, BLOs are carrying pre-filled registers to verify the electors. Officials describe this as a system upgrade intended to reduce paperwork and ease the verification process. They also explained why Assam is conducting SR instead of SIR.Officials said that that since citizenship verification under NRC is already monitored by the Supreme Court and nearing completion, a full scale SIR was deemed unnecessary

Voices From The Ground

Many voters across Kamrup Metro expressed relief and satisfaction with the new system, saying this is happening for the first time. Earlier we had to rush to election offices for verification but now BLOs are coming to their homes adding it's very convenient, said a resident of Chandmari.Another voter added, "This door-to-door method saves time and avoids confusion, and will solve the problem of illegal immigration. We hope this continues in future revisions too. Several voters highlighted that this process is particularly helpful for families with elderly members women and people with disabilities. They also mentioned that the clarity provided by BLOs about documents and forms has reduced the fear of making mistakes."

How BLOs Responded to SR Exercise

BLOs stationed across Kamrup Metro said the verification has been smooth due to available NRC data and pre-filled registers.Since NRC work is already done, identifying citizens is easier now. SR is sufficient and SIR isn't needed. We only update cases where someone has passed away or when a new member becomes eligible, a BLO from Dispur said.BLOs also clarified that specific forms are available for households where a member has died.Separate forms are used for including new voters turning 18 or newly eligible electors. They said door-to-door verification not only improves accuracy but also reduces the burden on citizens.

The Road Ahead for SR

With BLOs actively moving across Kamrup Metro and other districts, officials expect a cleaner more accurate and transparent electoral roll ahead of the 2026 elections.As Assam undertakes this first ever model of mid-level house to house SR, the initiative is already being viewed as a people centric step that brings electoral services directly to the doorstep of citizens.