EC Launches Nationwide Special Voter Roll Drive
- By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
- Feb 19, 2026
- 612
The Election Commission of India has announced a nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In a formal communication, Election Commission Secretary Pawan Diwan directed the Chief Electoral Officers of 22 states and Union Territories to expedite preparatory measures. The Commission indicated that the SIR exercise in the remaining states, including Delhi and Karnataka, is expected to commence in April. The directive follows an earlier order issued on June 24 last year mandating a countrywide revision.
The first phase of the SIR was conducted in Bihar, while the second phase, launched on October 28, 2025, is currently underway in 12 states and Union Territories. In Assam, however, a special revision was concluded on February 10 instead of a full SIR.
Below is a detailed explanation of the SIR process in six key questions and answers:
1. What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?
The SIR is a comprehensive verification and updating exercise of the electoral roll conducted by the Election Commission. It entails door-to-door outreach to verify voter details, facilitate corrections, and ensure accuracy in the voter registry. Eligible citizens who have attained the age of 18 are enrolled, while the names of deceased individuals, those who have migrated, or those appearing multiple times are removed. Clerical inaccuracies in names, addresses, and other particulars are also rectified.
2. Where was the first phase implemented?
The inaugural phase of the SIR was carried out in Bihar, culminating in a final electoral roll comprising 74.2 million voters.
Subsequently, the second phase covered several states and Union Territories, including:
3. Who conducts the SIR?
The exercise is executed at the grassroots level by Block Level Officers (BLOs) and Booth Level Agents (BLAs), who undertake household visits to verify and update voter information.
4. What are voters required to do?
During the revision process, voters must verify their personal details when approached by BLOs or BLAs. If an individual’s name appears in more than one constituency, it must be retained in only one location. Citizens whose names are absent from the electoral roll must submit the prescribed application form along with requisite documentary evidence to secure inclusion.
5. Which documents are considered valid?
The Commission recognizes a range of documents for verification purposes, including:
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Pensioner Identity Card
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Government-issued Identity Card
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Birth Certificate
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Passport
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Class 10 Marksheet
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Permanent Residence Certificate
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Forest Rights Certificate
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Caste Certificate
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Entry in the National Register of Citizens (NRC)
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Name in the family register
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Land or house allotment letter
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Aadhaar Card
6. What is the objective of the SIR?
The principal objective of the SIR is to ensure the integrity, accuracy, and inclusiveness of electoral rolls. While revisions covering the period from 1951 to 2004 have been completed, the subsequent 21 years have witnessed substantial demographic shifts due to migration, duplication, and other changes.
The exercise seeks to eliminate duplicate and ineligible entries, remove deceased voters and foreign nationals if identified, and ensure that no eligible citizen is excluded from the electoral process.
Under the second phase, initiated on November 4, 2025, across nine states and three Union Territories, approximately 509.9 million voters fall within its ambit. Although states were instructed to publish final electoral rolls by February 7, 2026, only Gujarat, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry have completed the process thus far.
Following the revision:
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Gujarat recorded 44 million registered voters.
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Puducherry reported 944,211 voters.
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Lakshadweep’s electoral roll stands at 57,607 voters.
Deadlines for publication have been extended in Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, reflecting administrative adjustments in the ongoing process.