NEW DELHI: (Oct 27) India’s Election Commission on Monday announced the launch of the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 12 states and Union Territories, part of a nationwide effort to update and verify the country’s voter database ahead of upcoming elections.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said the ongoing revision — the ninth such nationwide exercise since Independence — aims to ensure “no eligible voter is left out and no ineligible name remains on the rolls.” The last major revision was conducted between 2002 and 2004.
The first phase of the exercise was completed in Bihar, where the final electoral roll — containing 7.42 crore (74.2 million) voters — was published on September 30. Kumar noted that the process in Bihar concluded smoothly, with zero appeals or objections.
The Commission has already held consultations with state chief electoral officers to coordinate the rollout. According to officials, the SIR process will not be conducted in states currently holding or preparing for local body elections, as the local machinery is occupied. Those regions will be covered in later phases.
The revision involves door-to-door verification, cross-checking of records, and a focus on removing duplicate and ineligible entries, including foreign nationals and illegal migrants. Kumar emphasized that the cleanup is crucial to strengthening electoral transparency and public trust ahead of major polls in 2026.