The Election Commission of India’s BLOApp has drawn attention after a “Mark VIP” option appeared during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision, or SIR, of electoral rolls. The feature lets booth level officers flag certain electors during verification, but it does not create a separate voting right or shield a person from scrutiny.
Delhi’s SIR is in the claims, objections and notice stage, while S Jaishankar, L K Advani, Arvind Kejriwal and Election Commissioner S S Sandhu have received verification notices. The Election Commission’s electoral-roll manual already allowed officials to flag “marked electors,” while the newer app feature brings that process into the BLOApp workflow. The change is drawing wider scrutiny.
What Does The ‘Mark VIP’ Feature Actually Do?
An update recorded in early August carried the note “Mark VIP elector related changes” in the BLOApp version history. Reports from officials and BLOs say the option allows a BLO to identify an elector as VIP during verification. The recommendation then moves upward for review rather than becoming final at the BLO level.
A Delhi official told Hindustan Times that the marking is vetted by the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer, Electoral Registration Officer and then the Chief Electoral Officer’s office. The same report said the app function was introduced after the West Bengal SIR had begun and was not available there at the start.
“Mark VIP” is therefore a workflow flag. It does not mean the elector cannot receive a notice, nor does it automatically settle eligibility. Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer says notices are issued where records cannot be linked to the previous intensive revision or where logical discrepancies appear.
Who Counts As A ‘Marked Elector’ Under ECI Rules?
The category is older than the new button. The Election Commission’s March 2023 Manual on Electoral Rolls directs Electoral Registration Officers to flag certain prominent electors in the database to avoid wrongful deletion. It refers to MPs, MLAs, MLCs, holders of declared offices, people from arts, culture, journalism and sports, and members of the judiciary and public services.
The manual also tells officers to ensure these names appear in the proposed draft roll so documents can be collected during claims and objections. Delhi’s September 19 press note repeated that instruction while discussing SIR notices.
Key points readers should know:
- A BLO can flag an elector for the “VIP” workflow during verification.
- The flag is reviewed by higher election officials before action.
- Marked electors can still receive discrepancy or linkage notices.
- Supporting documents may still be required during claims and objections.
- The flag does not change the legal value of that elector’s vote.
Why Has The Feature Become A Political And Public Debate?
The issue gained visibility after prominent Delhi electors received SIR notices. Delhi’s CEO said 31,63,930 notices had been generated by September 19, while the draft roll contained 97,53,577 electors. Notices were being sent to people whose records could not be linked with the last intensive revision or showed logical discrepancies.
The same official note said no elector’s name can be removed merely because a notice was generated. A reply and supporting documents can be submitted to the ERO or BLO, and deletion requires an opportunity to be heard along with a speaking, appealable order. Notice disposal is scheduled to finish by October 29, with Delhi’s final electoral roll due on November 4.
The debate is about whether flagged electors receive a different administrative route. The Reporters’ Collective alleged that some VIP cases were handled at residences or expedited, while election officials cited elsewhere described the flag as a way to avoid wrongful deletion and facilitate verification. These are competing descriptions of how the system works in practice. ECI has not publicly issued a detailed technical note explaining the button’s full workflow.
CEO Delhi also addressed the controversy on its official X account on September 20, posting a press note about notices to “VIP/marked electors.” The post said a notice does not itself mean exclusion from the roll.
What Should Voters Watch Next?
The next useful development would be a formal ECI explanation of when a BLO should use “Mark VIP,” who can qualify, what approvals are required and whether the workflow changes hearings or document collection. Until then, the best-supported reading is that the feature digitises an older “marked elector” practice inside BLOApp rather than creating a new class of voting rights.
For voters, the immediate advice remains the same: check the draft roll, respond to any notice, keep supporting documents ready and use the official voter portal for electoral-roll services. In Delhi, the claims and objections process and notice disposal remain time-bound ahead of final publication.
FAQ
What is the SIR ‘Mark VIP’ feature?
It lets BLOs flag specified electors for administrative tracking during electoral-roll verification and review procedures.
Does ‘Mark VIP’ stop an elector from receiving a notice?
No, marked electors can still receive notices when records show linkage problems or logical discrepancies.
Who can be treated as a marked elector?
ECI guidance includes legislators, office holders, judges, public servants, journalists, athletes and cultural personalities nationwide.
Can a BLO alone give final VIP status?
No, reports indicate BLO marking moves through higher election officials for review and approval afterward.
When will Delhi’s final SIR electoral roll be published?
Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer scheduled final publication of the electoral roll for November 4, 2026.
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