Rayagada Electoral Roll Published; 6.71 Lakh Voters on List
Dr.Badal Tah,Odishabarta
2,537 names added, 366 deleted during SIR; 1.47 lakh electors subjected to verification
Rayagada, September 21: The final electoral roll for Rayagada district was published on last Monday following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)-2026, taking the total number of registered voters in the district to 6,71,378. The final roll was formally presented to representatives of recognised political parties at a meeting, held at the new conference hall of the Collectorate.
The meeting was chaired by Collector and District Election Officer Ashutosh Kulkarni. Kulkarni briefed the political parties about the additions, deletions, corrections and verification undertaken during the revision process.
The three Assembly constituencies in Rayagada district—138-Gunupur, 139-Bissam Cuttack and 140-Rayagada—had a combined electorate of 7,14,700 before the SIR exercise. The draft roll subsequently contained 6,69,207 voters, while the final publication has raised the figure to 6,71,378. The revision involved extensive verification. Notices for hearings were issued to 1,47,367 electors in cases relating to migration and the absence of supporting documents. Officials said the cases were examined and disposed of through hearings in accordance with prescribed procedures and directions of the Election Commission.
As part of the revision, 2,537 names were added through Forms 6, 6A and 8. A further 366 names were deleted in accordance with directions issued by the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha. Officials also identified 54 voters as ineligible—18 in Gunupur, 5 in Bissam Cuttack and 31 in Rayagada Assembly constituency.
The constituency-wise final electorate stands at 2,07,861 in Gunupur, 2,20,950 in Bissam Cuttack and 2,42,567 in Rayagada, taking the district total to 6,71,378. The roll includes two overseas (NRI) voters. Women outnumber men in the final electoral roll. The district has 3,53,252 female voters, compared with 3,17,958 male voters and 168 third-gender voters, giving a sex ratio of 1,111. The final roll includes 5,225 young voters in the 18–19 age group, 14,719 voters with disabilities, 228 service voters and 2,208 voters aged 85 years and above.
Kulkarni said the SIR exercise was completed without any major complications in the district. He also stressed that electoral-roll revision is a continuous process and that eligible citizens can approach the election authorities throughout the year for inclusion of their names or correction of electoral particulars. Under the prevailing guidelines, Form 6 is used for fresh enrolment of voters, while Form 8 is used for correction, modification or change of address and other particulars.
The meeting was attended by Additional District Magistrate Rabindranath Kanhar, Gunupur Sub-Collector Dudhal Abhishek Dilip, Rayagada Sub-Collector Mrunalika Rathore, Election Deputy Collector Manuela Priyadarshini, Election Assistant Collector Bichitra Sethi and District Information and Public Relations Officer(I/C) Debaraj Takri. Representatives and office-bearers of recognised political parties also attended the meeting and received the final electoral roll in both printed and digital formats.
