Extension Strengthens Democratic Rights and Ensures No Genuine Voter Is Left Behind
Bhubaneswar | 31 July 2026The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has welcomed the Election Commission of India’s decision to extend the period for filing Claims and Objections under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR)-2026 of Electoral Rolls. The extension is a significant step towards safeguarding the democratic rights of lakhs of eligible voters and ensuring that no genuine citizen is deprived of the constitutional right to vote.
Earlier yesterday, a high-level delegation of the BJD, led by Shri Debi Prasad Mishra, Senior Vice President, BJD, comprising Shri Ananta Narayan Jena, Shri Pritiranjan Gharai, Shri BhruguBaxipatra, Smt. Sulochana Das, Shri Bijaya Nayak, and Shri Umakanta Samantaray, among others, met the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Odisha, and submitted a detailed memorandum demanding that the period for filing Claims and Objections be extended by at least 30 days.
The party had highlighted that the existing timeline was inadequate considering the large number of voters whose names required correction, inclusion, or restoration. BJD had urged the Election Commission to provide sufficient time so that every eligible voter could effectively participate in the electoral roll revision process.
The Election Commission of India has now revised the SIR-2026 schedule. As per the revised timeline, the period for filing Claims and Objections has been extended from 5 July 2026–4 August 2026 to 5 July 2026–19 August 2026. Consequently, the disposal of Claims and Objections will continue until 17 September 2026, and the Final Electoral Roll will now be published on 21 September 2026.
The Biju Janata Dal believes that this decision vindicates its consistent stand that the electoral roll revision process must be transparent, inclusive, and citizen-centric. The extension provides much-needed relief to lakhs of genuine voters, particularly those residing in remote areas, senior citizens, migrant workers, women, economically weaker sections, and other vulnerable groups who might otherwise have lost the opportunity to protect their voting rights.
BJD reiterates that the right to vote is the foundation of democracy, and no eligible voter should be denied this fundamental democratic right because of procedural limitations or an inadequate timeframe. The party hopes that the extended period will enable every deserving citizen to file Claims and Objections without difficulty and ensure that the final electoral roll is comprehensive, accurate, and inclusive.
The Biju Janata Dal remains committed to protecting the democratic rights of the people of Odisha and will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the Special Intensive Revision process to ensure that every eligible voter receives justice and that the sanctity of the electoral process is fully upheld.
Revised Schedule for SIR-2026
- Claims & Objections: 05 July 2026 – 19 August 2026
- Notice Phase & Disposal of Claims/Objections: 05 July 2026 – 17 September 2026
- Final Publication of Electoral Roll: 21 September 2026
