Uttar Pradesh organised special voter registration camps at polling stations across the state on Saturday to help eligible citizens enrol in the electoral rolls. The camps operated from 10 am to 4 pm, with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) available to assist applicants. Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa urged eligible residents to apply, particularly those whose names were left out during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and young people preparing to vote for the first time.

The campaign aims to expand voter registration, with a particular focus on women and young voters. According to Rinwa, Uttar Pradesh has an estimated population of around 16.17 crore people aged 18 and above, while more than 13 crore names are already registered on the electoral rolls. Officials believe the gap indicates that a significant number of eligible citizens may still need to enrol.

Aadhaar Can Be Used to Provide Supporting Information
According to the Chief Electoral Officer, Aadhaar can be used to provide information relating to date of birth and residence during the general voter registration process, subject to the prescribed rules and verification requirements.

Previously, applicants were required to provide one of the specified documents, such as a high school marksheet or birth certificate, as proof of date of birth. Officials said applications and supporting documents will be checked in accordance with the applicable registration rules.

No Mandatory Match With the 2003 Voter List
Rinwa clarified that eligible citizens do not need to establish that their father, grandparents or other family members appeared on the 2003 electoral roll to apply through the current general registration process.

Eligible applicants can submit Form 6 to register as voters. Forms 7 and 8 are also being accepted for the purposes prescribed under the electoral registration process.

People whose names were omitted from the electoral roll during the SIR exercise may also be considered for inclusion after the required checks and verification. Authorities are simultaneously working to identify and prevent duplicate entries.

Political Parties to Get an Opportunity to Raise Objections
Following the current exercise, the electoral rolls will be made available to political parties during the Special Summary Revision (SSR) process. The process will provide an opportunity to raise objections in accordance with the prescribed procedure.

The Chief Electoral Officer has instructed district election officers to ensure that BLOs are present at polling stations, sufficient Form 6 applications are available and help desks are arranged to guide applicants.

Rinwa emphasised that no eligible citizen should be left out of the voter registration process. Citizens seeking enrolment are advised to confirm the applicable documentation requirements and application procedure with the Election Commission or their local BLO.