The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to launch the first phase of the pan-India Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls on Monday. This phase will cover around 10 to 15 states and Union Territories, including poll-bound Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry.
According to sources within the Commission, states like Maharashtra, which are preparing for local body elections by January 2026, and snow-bound regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Ladakh will be included in later phases of the exercise.
The enrollment stage for the first phase is expected to begin on November 1, with the final rolls likely published by late January or early February 2026. The Commission clarified that the list of acceptable documents for voter verification will remain similar to those used during the Bihar SIR, with Aadhaar serving only as proof of identity.
Officials said the goal of the nationwide revision is to create cleaner and more accurate voter lists by removing duplicate, ineligible, or outdated entries. The process is designed to enhance transparency and ensure that all eligible citizens are included ahead of upcoming state and national elections.
The ECI also held two national conferences with Chief Electoral Officers in September and October to assess preparedness for the massive electoral roll update.
