As Hyderabad enters Phase III of the Special Intensive Revision, voters are advised to submit the right election forms early to ensure smooth verification and avoid complications later.

Hyderabad: With Phase III of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) moving into its preparatory stage, voters in Hyderabad are being urged to proactively update their details in the electoral rolls to prevent last-minute hurdles.

Officials involved in the exercise said the current focus is on preparatory work such as family and progeny mapping, a process aimed at cleaning up voter lists ahead of the final notification expected in April–May 2026. During this stage, electors are advised to submit the appropriate forms depending on whether they need to enrol afresh, correct details, shift addresses, or delete duplicate or deceased entries.

The Election Commission of India provides three key forms for this purpose. Form 6 is meant for new voters above 18 years who are not enrolled anywhere else in the country. Form 8 allows voters to update personal details or record a change of residence, while Form 7 is used to remove names due to death or duplication. These forms can be submitted online, through Booth Level Officers, or at Mee-Seva centres for those less comfortable with digital platforms.

Officials noted that address mismatches are a common issue in Hyderabad, where residents frequently move within or between localities. During door-to-door verification, such discrepancies can result in voters being marked absent, complicating their inclusion later in the process.

At the same time, Booth Level Officers have begun family or progeny mapping, linking voters to relatives listed in older electoral rolls, particularly the 2002 list. Those successfully linked through parents or grandparents will not be required to submit additional documents, while unlinked voters may receive notices later seeking proof.

Analysis: Early submission of the correct forms can spare voters unnecessary stress during the formal SIR phase. In a fast-moving city like Hyderabad, timely updates are increasingly crucial to ensure that genuine voters are not inconvenienced by technical lapses in the rolls. This assessment reflects analytical opinion; all factual details above are drawn from the original content.