Minister Ponnam Pushes for Error-Free Electoral Rolls

Calling the right to vote the foundation of a healthy democracy, Telangana Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar urged citizens to actively participate in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and ensure that their names remain correctly registered. He said protecting one's voting rights is a shared responsibility between election authorities and the public, especially at a time when democratic institutions demand greater public vigilance.

Launching an extensive voter awareness campaign in the Khairatabad Assembly constituency on Thursday, the minister said the electoral roll revision is a crucial exercise aimed at preparing an accurate, transparent and inclusive voter database ahead of future elections. He noted that every eligible citizen must use the opportunity to verify personal details, correct errors and complete the enrolment process within the stipulated timeframe.

Addressing a special orientation programme for Booth Level Agents (BLAs) at Melkote Park in Himayatnagar , Ponnam Prabhakar said the revision is being carried out with reference to the 2002 and 2025 electoral rolls . The exercise, he explained, seeks to include all eligible voters while identifying duplicate, deceased or permanently shifted electors to improve the quality of the voter list.

The minister cautioned that negligence at the grassroots level could result in genuine voters losing their electoral rights. Recalling instances from previous revisions where eligible names were omitted due to verification lapses, he instructed Booth Level Agents to conduct door-to-door verification meticulously and ensure that every household is covered without exception.

Following the awareness session, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and BLAs launched an outreach programme in the Vithalwadi area, educating residents about the Enumeration Form , which plays a key role in the revision process. Citizens were advised to cooperate fully with election officials, provide accurate information and submit the completed forms within the prescribed schedule.

Ponnam Prabhakar said the Enumeration Form allows first-time voters to enrol, existing voters to update address changes and families to report the names of deceased or migrated members for deletion from the rolls. He stressed that people should not depend solely on official verification but should personally confirm that their names are correctly reflected in the electoral database to avoid last-minute complications during elections.

The minister later participated in another awareness programme at Venkateswara Colony, Road No. 7, Banjara Hills , where he appealed to residents, elected representatives and election officials to treat the voter revision exercise as a public movement rather than a routine administrative process . He urged every eligible citizen to complete the verification process before July 24 , the deadline for the current phase of the campaign.

Highlighting the comparatively lower voter participation in many urban localities, Ponnam Prabhakar called upon educated citizens and young voters to take the lead in strengthening the democratic process. He warned that failure to verify voter records could lead to technical discrepancies or omission of names from the electoral roll, underscoring the importance of timely participation.

The awareness drives conducted across the Khairatabad constituency witnessed the participation of public representatives, election officials, political workers and local residents, reinforcing the message that free and fair elections begin with an accurate electoral roll and informed voter participation .