One item which has been continuously in the news for the last few months is the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) of Electoral Rolls. The revision of electoral rolls started in Bihar as it was poll-bound during the later part of the year. The opposition parties created lots of hungama and blamed the government for deleting the names of lakhs of eligible voters from the electoral rolls. The matter went up to the Supreme Court, and no concrete evidence could be provided by the opposition parties about the deletion of the names of eligible voters from the list.
What is this SIR?
The electoral roll is the foundation of India’s democratic process-it determines who can vote in elections. Maintaining an accurate and up-to-date electoral rolls is crucial for ensuring free and fair elections. To achieve this Election Commission of India (ECI) periodically conducts revisions of electoral rolls. Among these SIR holds special importance, as it aims to comprehensively correct, verify, and update voters list where irregularities or deficiencies are found.
The process of revision of electoral rolls is governed by the:
- Representation of the People Act, 1950-sections 21-23.
- Registration of Electors Rules 1960
- Election Commission Of India (ECI)- Constitutional Authority under Article 324 of the Constitution of India.
SIR is under taken when the ECI finds that:
- There are large-scale errors, duplication, or missing names.
- There have been significant demographic changes, such as migration or urban expansion.
- Complaints or reports suggest irregularities in the existing rolls.
- Major delimitation or restructuring of constituencies has taken place.
The SIR aims to ensure that every eligible citizen is registered once and only once, and the ineligible entries are removed.
Types of Revision Exercises
The ECI usually conducts three types of revision:
1 Summary Revision– Annual, done briefly to update minor changes.
2 Continuous Updation– Regular corrections or additions throughout the year.
3 Special Intensive Revision– A large scale verification of every entry in the roll, often involving door-to-door verification.
The SIR is therefore a field-level exercise, going beyond paperwork and involving direct verification of voters’ identities and addresses.
Objective of SIR
- Ensure inclusivity– Register all eligible citizens aged 18 and above.
- Remove ineligible entries– Delete names of deceased, shifted, or disqualified voters.
- Correct demographic details-Verify addresses, age, gender, and photo identity.
- Enhance transparency-Engage political parties and citizens in the verification process.
- Prepare clean rolls before the election.
Process of SIR
1 Announcement & Schedule
- The ECI issues detailed guidelines and schedule to Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of concerned States
- Public notice is given through newspapers, radio and local officials.
2 Draft Publication
- The draft electoral roll is published for public scrutiny.
- Citizens are invited to check their details, submit objections, or apply for inclusion.
3 House-to-House Verification
- Booth Level Officers (BLOS) visit every household.
- They verify existing entries and collect data for new eligible voters.
4 Claims and Objections
- Citizens can file Form 6 (for inclusion), Form 7 (for deletion), and Form 8A (for change of address).
- These forms are available online on the National Voters Service Portal (NVSP) and physically at designated centres.
5 Hearing and Decision
- Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) review claims and objections, holding hearings if needed.
6 Final Publication
- After verification and approval, the final electoral roll is published.
- The roll is made available for inspection at polling stations and online.
Participation of Stakeholders
- Political Parties-Informed of every revision step, invited to check rolls.
- Citizens- Encouraged to verify their entries and submit correction.
- Civil Society & NGOs-Sometimes engaged to spread awareness.
- Local Administration- Assists in field verification and data collection.
Recent SIR
1 Bihar (2024-25)- The ECI ordered a SIR after reports of errors in voter rolls, including duplicate and missing names. The exercise involved door-to-door verification across all districts.
2 West Bengal (2023)- conducted to clean the rolls before the panchayat elections amid allegations of bogus voters.
3 Kashmir (2022)- After delimitation, a massive SIR was carried out to include newly eligible voters and migrant population.
Yesterday, the ECI ordered the next leg of SIR of electoral rolls-a pan India exercise covering 12 States and Union Territories, covering 51 Cr voters. It will start on 4th November 2025, and end on 7th February 2026. The States and UTs are West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry where polls are due April-May next year. Other States and UTs included in this exercise are-UP, Chattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, MP, Rajasthan, Andaman & Nicobar, and Lakshadweep.
Here TMC of West Bengal and DMK of Tamilnadu are claiming this as plot to delete legit voters, whereas BJP sees it as drive to weed out illegal ones.
In the end, the SIR of Electoral Rolls is more than a bureaucratic process- it is democratic safe guard. By ensuring that every eligible citizen is registered and every ineligible name removed, it strengths the credibility of elections. Continuous technological innovation, public participation, and political neutrality remain the keys to making this exercise more effective and trustworthy in the years to come.
Waiting for your views on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
28th October 2025