The Election Commission of India (ECI) organised the third Conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of 2025 at the India International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Management (IIIDEM) in the capital. The meeting was chaired by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi.
The central agenda of the conference was to review the preparedness for the nationwide Special Summary Revision (SIR) exercise. The Commission underlined the importance of maintaining accuracy, inclusiveness, and transparency in the electoral rolls ahead of upcoming elections.
During the session, the CEO of Bihar made a detailed presentation on strategies, challenges, and best practices adopted in their State, offering insights for other CEOs to replicate effective methods. CEOs from other States and Union Territories also presented data on the number of electors, qualifying dates of the last SIR, and the status of digitisation and uploading of electoral rolls on their respective websites.
A special focus was placed on the mapping of current electors with those listed in the last SIR, ensuring that duplication and errors are minimized. The Commission also reviewed the rationalisation of polling stations, stressing its initiative to ensure that no polling station exceeds 1,200 electors.
The conference further deliberated on simplifying the documentation process to make voter registration easier, while also ensuring that only eligible citizens are included in the rolls.
In addition, the Commission reviewed the appointment and training status of District Election Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Assistant EROs (AEROs), Booth Level Officers (BLOs), and Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to ensure uniform standards of electoral management across the country.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar highlighted the importance of technology, capacity building, and accountability in achieving a credible voter database. He urged CEOs to adopt a citizen-centric approach so that “no eligible voter is left behind, and no ineligible entry remains.”
The conference concluded with a call for greater coordination and standardisation among States and UTs to ensure the smooth conduct of the upcoming nationwide SIR exercise.
