Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced on Monday that the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls will commence Tuesday across 12 states and Union Territories: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Puducherry, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Lakshadweep.
Special Intensive Revision Begins in 12 States and UTs on Tuesday
Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Gyanesh Kumar revealed that Bihar’s SIR exercise, which began months earlier and concluded with a final revised list on September 30, was completed without a single appeal, involving over 90,000 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) across the state.
Voter Lists Frozen as Revision Process Begins
“The 12 states and UTs where the Special Intensive Revision will begin from tomorrow are those where voter lists will be frozen tonight,” Gyanesh Kumar stated, adding that all Chief Electoral Officers and District Electoral Officers have been directed to brief political parties about the process by Wednesday.
He noted this marks the ninth SIR exercise since Independence and the first nationwide revision in over two decades, with the previous instance occurring between 2002 and 2004.
Addressing Electoral Roll Accuracy Concerns
Explaining the revision’s necessity, the CEC stated: “There are several reasons why an exercise like SIR is needed. These include frequent migration, which leads to voters getting registered at more than one place, non-removal of deceased voters, and wrongful inclusion of any foreigner.”
Kumar acknowledged that political parties have repeatedly raised concerns regarding electoral roll accuracy and integrity, prompting this comprehensive verification drive.
Three-Visit Verification Protocol
BLOs will conduct at least three household visits during the SIR to verify and update voter information. They will assist new voters with Form 6 completion and declaration forms, facilitate data matching and linking, and submit documentation to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) or Assistant EROs.
“Training of polling officials for the second phase of the SIR will begin on Tuesday,” Kumar said. “Our focus is on ensuring the completeness, purity, and inclusiveness of electoral rolls ahead of upcoming elections.”
The nationwide revision represents a significant effort to maintain electoral roll integrity across India, addressing longstanding concerns about voter list accuracy while preparing for future elections.
