The Election Commission has decided that migrant workers and voters currently residing outside the state will not be required to appear in person for hearings during the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Sources in the commission said that a dedicated portal will be launched to facilitate the process.

Voters living outside the state, if served notices for hearings, will be allowed to upload their documents by logging into the portal.

Alternatively, the required documents can also be submitted through the WhatsApp number of the respective Booth Level Officer (BLO).

“There is no need for the person to stay physically at the hearing. The person concerned can upload the documents and it will be accepted,” a senior official at the CEO office said.

The submitted documents will be scrutinised in the next stage, following which a decision will be taken on whether the individual’s name will be included in the final electoral roll.

The same procedure will apply to outstation voters who wish to enrol their names online. In such cases, they may be required to provide details about their current location and occupation.

The commission has also issued clear instructions regarding attendance at hearing centres where it has been said that BLOs will not be permitted to compel such voters to visit hearing centres.

The Commission has also warned that if any BLO forces voters to appear in person, claims that there are no written instructions, or attempts to politicise the issue, strict action will be taken.

“An FIR may also be lodged against the officer for spreading misinformation,” the official said.

Earlier, during the hearing phase of the SIR, the Election Commission had introduced special measures for Indians living abroad for education or employment.

It was announced that if a non-resident Indian was served a notice, they could resolve the issue by submitting passport and visa-related documents at the Indian embassy in the country of residence.

The latest move is aimed at reducing inconvenience and ensuring wider participation in the electoral roll revision process, Commission sources said.