The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls represents one of the most comprehensive and transformative exercises undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure the accuracy, inclusivity, and integrity of voter lists across the nation. The SIR 2025 initiative marks a watershed moment in Indian electoral democracy, as it involves the systematic verification, updating, and correction of electoral rolls covering hundreds of millions of voters across multiple states and union territories. Unlike routine annual roll updates that occur through summary revision processes, the Special Intensive Revision is a far more thorough, time-bound, house-to-house verification exercise that aims to rebuild the electoral roll from the ground up.​

The nomenclature "Special Intensive Revision" itself reflects the dual nature of this exercise—it combines the comprehensive features of a full enumeration with the targeted objectives of summary updates, thereby creating a "special" category of revision that goes beyond ordinary electoral roll maintenance. This exercise is typically triggered in anticipation of major elections, following significant demographic changes, or when the existing electoral rolls have remained substantially unchanged for extended periods and require comprehensive overhauling.​

The SIR 2025 represents the largest voter verification drive undertaken in India since the early 2000s, with the Election Commission implementing it in two distinct phases. The first phase, conducted in Bihar from June to September 2025, served as a pilot exercise covering approximately 8 crore voters. The second phase, announced in October 2025, extends this comprehensive revision to 12 additional states and union territories, encompassing over 51 crore voters. The magnitude of this undertaking underscores the Election Commission's commitment to ensuring that every eligible citizen can exercise their democratic right to vote while simultaneously eliminating errors, duplicates, and ineligible entries from the voter lists.​

Constitutional and Legal Framework
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls derives its authority from the Constitution of India and various parliamentary legislations that empower the Election Commission to superintend, direct, and control the preparation of electoral rolls. Understanding the legal framework is essential to appreciating both the authority and the limitations of the SIR exercise.​

Article 324 of the Constitution
Article 324(1) of the Constitution of India vests the Election Commission with the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for all elections to Parliament and to the Legislature of every State. This constitutional provision grants the Election Commission comprehensive powers to ensure that electoral rolls are prepared in accordance with principles of fairness, accuracy, and inclusivity. The Election Commission consists of the Chief Election Commissioner and such number of other Election Commissioners as the President may appoint, with the Chief Election Commissioner acting as the Chairman.​

The constitutional framework ensures that the Election Commission functions as an independent constitutional authority with the mandate to conduct free and fair elections. This independence is protected through provisions that make the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner possible only through a process similar to the impeachment of a Supreme Court judge. Such constitutional safeguards ensure that the Election Commission can undertake exercises like the Special Intensive Revision without undue political interference or pressure.​

Article 325 and 326
Article 325 of the Constitution provides that there shall be one general electoral roll for every territorial constituency, and no person shall be ineligible for inclusion in any such roll on grounds of religion, race, caste, or sex. This provision ensures the secular and inclusive character of India's electoral system. Article 326 guarantees adult suffrage to all citizens of India who have attained the age of 18 years as on the qualifying date, subject to disqualifications specified under the Constitution or any law made by the appropriate legislature.​

The Representation of the People Act, 1950
The Representation of the People Act, 1950, provides the statutory framework for the preparation and revision of electoral rolls. Section 21 of this Act is particularly relevant to the Special Intensive Revision exercise. While the Act provides for continuous updating of electoral rolls and annual summary revisions, Section 21(3) empowers the Election Commission to order special revision of the electoral roll when it deems necessary.​

The Act establishes the framework for appointing Chief Electoral Officers for each state, District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, and other officials who implement the electoral roll revision process. It also specifies the qualifications for inclusion in electoral rolls, grounds for deletion, and procedures for handling claims and objections.​

The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960
The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, promulgated by the Central Government under powers conferred by the Representation of the People Act, provide detailed procedural guidelines for electoral roll preparation and revision. These rules specify the form and language of electoral rolls, the division of rolls into parts, procedures for handling applications for inclusion and deletion, and the conduct of verification exercises.​

The rules mandate that electoral rolls be prepared in convenient parts, with each part generally containing not more than two thousand names. They also provide for the arrangement of names according to house numbers or alphabetically, depending on what is more convenient for the specific locality. The rules establish procedures for handling statements from persons with service qualifications or those holding declared offices, and for conducting house-to-house verification.​

SIR 2025: Overview and Phases
The Special Intensive Revision 2025 represents a two-phase nationwide exercise designed to comprehensively update and verify electoral rolls across India. The phased approach allows the Election Commission to implement lessons learned from the first phase in Bihar to subsequent phases covering other states and union territories.​

First Phase: Bihar (June - September 2025)
The Election Commission launched the first phase of SIR 2025 in Bihar with a qualifying date of July 1, 2025. This meant that all citizens who would turn 18 years of age by October 1, 2025, were eligible for inclusion in the electoral rolls. The Bihar exercise covered approximately 7.89 crore voters as of June 24, 2025, and involved massive mobilization of electoral machinery.​

According to official data released by the Press Information Bureau, the Bihar SIR achieved the following outcomes:​

Initial electors as on June 24, 2025: 7.89 crore

Total electors removed from draft list: 65 lakhs

Electors in draft list on August 1, 2025: 7.24 crore

Ineligible electors removed from draft list: 3.66 lakhs

Eligible electors added in draft list through Form 6: 21.53 lakhs

Total electors in final list (September 30, 2025): approximately 7.42 crore

The Bihar exercise demonstrated both the scale and complexity of the SIR process, with intensive house-to-house enumeration involving more than 4 lakh volunteers and Booth Level Officers. The Exercise Commission congratulated the people of Bihar, election officials, political parties, and other stakeholders upon successful completion of this first phase.​

Second Phase: 12 States and Union Territories (November 2025 - February 2026)
On October 26-27, 2025, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced the second phase of Special Intensive Revision covering 12 states and union territories. This phase represents one of the largest voter verification drives in India's electoral history, covering over 51 crore voters.​

The 12 states and union territories covered in the second phase are:​

The qualifying date for the second phase is January 1, 2026, meaning any citizen who turns 18 years of age on or before this date is eligible for enrollment in the electoral rolls.​

Timeline for Second Phase
The Election Commission announced a comprehensive timeline for the second phase of SIR:​

  1. October 26, 2025 (midnight): Freezing of voter lists in all 12 states/UTs
  2. October 27, 2025: Commencement of printing of enumeration forms and training of Booth Level Officers
  3. November 4, 2025: Beginning of enumeration process (duration: one month)
  4. December 9, 2025: Publication of draft electoral rolls
  5. December 9, 2025 to January 8, 2026: Period for filing claims and objections
  6. February 7, 2026: Publication of final electoral rolls

This structured timeline ensures adequate time for comprehensive house-to-house verification, public scrutiny of draft rolls, and grievance redressal before finalizing the electoral rolls.​

States Excluded from Second Phase
Certain states were excluded from the second phase of SIR for specific reasons. Maharashtra was excluded as per Supreme Court orders to conduct local body elections by January 31, 2026. Assam was excluded due to the ongoing National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise, which requires separate handling of citizenship verification matters. These exclusions demonstrate the Election Commission's sensitivity to state-specific circumstances and legal constraints.​

Objectives of Special Intensive Revision
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls pursues multiple interconnected objectives that collectively aim to strengthen the foundation of Indian democracy.​

Ensuring Accuracy of Electoral Rolls
The primary objective of SIR is to ensure that electoral rolls accurately reflect the current demographic reality of each constituency. Over time, electoral rolls accumulate errors due to deaths, migration, duplicate entries, and administrative oversights. The SIR exercise systematically addresses these errors through comprehensive house-to-house verification and document-based validation. By removing deceased voters, duplicate entries, and persons who have migrated to other constituencies, the SIR ensures that the electoral roll represents only actual, eligible voters.​

Maximizing Inclusion of Eligible Voters
While accuracy requires removing ineligible entries, inclusion demands that every eligible citizen is enrolled in the electoral roll. The SIR exercise particularly focuses on including first-time voters who have attained 18 years of age, internal migrants who have shifted residences, persons previously omitted from electoral rolls, and marginalized groups who may face barriers to registration. The Election Commission's stated objective is to ensure that no eligible voter is left out.​

Eliminating Duplicates and Ghost Voters
Duplicate entries in electoral rolls undermine the principle of "one person, one vote" and create opportunities for electoral malpractice. The SIR exercise employs rigorous verification mechanisms to identify and eliminate duplicate entries, particularly those arising from persons registered in multiple constituencies or multiple times within the same constituency. By removing such duplicates, the exercise enhances the integrity of the electoral process.​

Preparing Error-Free Electoral Rolls
The overarching objective is to prepare electoral rolls that are as error-free as possible. This includes correcting spelling mistakes in names, rectifying errors in addresses, updating family relationships, and ensuring that all mandatory fields are properly filled. Error-free rolls facilitate smooth conduct of elections, reduce disputes, and enhance public confidence in the electoral system.​

Reflecting Demographic Changes
India's population is dynamic, with significant internal migration from rural to urban areas, changing family structures, and evolving settlement patterns. Electoral rolls that remain unchanged for extended periods fail to reflect these demographic realities. The SIR exercise updates the rolls to reflect current ground realities, ensuring appropriate allocation of polling stations and adequate representation.​

Strengthening Electoral Democracy
Ultimately, the SIR exercise aims to strengthen India's electoral democracy by ensuring that the voter list—the foundation of representative government—is accurate, inclusive, and trustworthy. Clean electoral rolls reduce litigation, minimize disputes during elections, and enhance public trust in the electoral system.​

Methodology and Process of SIR
The Special Intensive Revision follows a structured methodology involving multiple stages, each designed to ensure comprehensive coverage and accuracy.​

Notification and Planning
The SIR process begins with formal notification by the Election Commission specifying the qualifying date, the geographical area covered, and the schedule for various activities. The qualifying date determines which citizens are eligible for inclusion based on their age as of that date. For Bihar SIR, the qualifying date was July 1, 2025, while for the second phase covering 12 states/UTs, it is January 1, 2026.​

Following notification, intensive planning occurs at multiple levels. The Chief Electoral Officers of states coordinate with District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, and other officials to prepare detailed action plans. This planning includes identification and training of Booth Level Officers, printing of enumeration forms, establishment of control rooms, and creation of public awareness campaigns.​

Freezing of Electoral Rolls
Before commencing the SIR exercise, existing electoral rolls are frozen at midnight on a specified date. For the second phase, rolls were frozen at midnight on October 26, 2025. This freezing ensures a stable baseline for comparison and prevents confusion during the enumeration process.​

Training of Booth Level Officers
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are the frontline functionaries who conduct house-to-house enumeration. Before the enumeration begins, all BLOs undergo intensive training on procedures, forms, verification norms, handling of documents, and addressing public queries. For the second phase of SIR 2025, training commenced on October 27, 2025.​

Printing and Distribution of Enumeration Forms
Unique enumeration forms are printed for distribution to existing voters and potential new voters. These forms are designed to capture all necessary information including name, parent's or relative's name, address, date of birth, and linkage to previous electoral roll data where applicable. The forms also include fields for documenting proof of identity, age, and residence.​

House-to-House Enumeration
The core of the SIR exercise is house-to-house enumeration conducted by Booth Level Officers. BLOs visit every household in their assigned polling area and distribute enumeration forms to existing electors and new eligible persons. During these visits, BLOs verify the continued residence of persons already on the electoral roll, identify persons who have died or migrated, and identify new eligible voters who need to be added.​

For the second phase of SIR 2025, the enumeration process commenced on November 4, 2025, and continued for one month. This extended period ensures that BLOs can reach every household, including those requiring multiple visits due to absence of family members during initial visits.​

Document Verification and Linkage to Previous Rolls
A distinctive feature of SIR 2025 is the emphasis on linking current voters to previous electoral roll data, particularly the 2002-2004 intensive revision. Voters whose names appeared in the 2003 electoral roll are generally not required to submit additional documents, as their previous registration serves as sufficient proof. Similarly, voters whose parents' names appeared in the 2003 roll are also exempted from additional documentation requirements.​

However, voters who cannot be linked to the previous intensive revision are required to submit documents proving their identity, age, and residence. Acceptable documents include Aadhaar card, passport, driving license, ration card, and various other government-issued identity documents. The Election Commission has specified 13 acceptable documents for proving eligibility.​

 

 

Preparation and Publication of Draft Electoral Rolls
After completing enumeration and document verification, Electoral Registration Officers prepare draft electoral rolls incorporating additions, deletions, and corrections. For the second phase of SIR 2025, draft rolls are scheduled for publication on December 9, 2025.​

The draft rolls are published on the official websites of Chief Electoral Officers, displayed at designated locations including electoral offices, and made available for public inspection. This publication serves as an opportunity for citizens to verify their own enrollment and to identify any errors or omissions.​

Claims and Objections Period
Following publication of draft rolls, a specified period is designated for filing claims and objections. During this period, eligible citizens whose names do not appear in the draft roll can file claims (Form 6) for inclusion, while citizens can file objections (Form 7) against incorrect or ineligible entries. For the second phase of SIR 2025, the claims and objections period runs from December 9, 2025, to January 8, 2026.​

Electoral Registration Officers are required to conduct hearings on claims and objections, providing opportunities for affected persons to present evidence and arguments. This quasi-judicial process ensures procedural fairness and protects against arbitrary deletions or exclusions.​

Preparation and Publication of Final Electoral Rolls
After disposing of all claims and objections, Electoral Registration Officers prepare the final electoral rolls. These final rolls incorporate all approved additions, deletions, and corrections arising from the claims and objections process. For the second phase of SIR 2025, final electoral rolls are scheduled for publication on February 7, 2026.​

The final electoral rolls become the official voter lists for conducting elections. Once published, these rolls are frozen except for limited additions and deletions permissible under law, such as inclusion of persons attaining voting age after the qualifying date or deletion of deceased persons.​

Role of Election Commission and Electoral Officials
The successful implementation of Special Intensive Revision depends on the coordinated efforts of various electoral officials operating at different levels of the administrative hierarchy.​

Election Commission of India
The Election Commission of India, functioning under Article 324 of the Constitution, plays the central role in planning, directing, and supervising the SIR exercise. The Commission issues notifications specifying the scope, schedule, and procedures for SIR. It establishes guidelines for document verification, enumeration processes, and grievance redressal.​

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has personally announced and explained the SIR 2025 exercise through media briefings, demonstrating the Commission's commitment to transparency and public engagement. The Commission monitors the progress of SIR through regular reports from state-level officials and intervenes where necessary to address bottlenecks or complaints.​

Chief Electoral Officer
Each state and union territory has a Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) who serves as the principal electoral official responsible for implementing Election Commission directives within that jurisdiction. The CEO coordinates the SIR exercise at the state level, ensuring allocation of resources, training of personnel, and adherence to timelines.​

The CEO maintains liaison with the Election Commission, reporting on progress and seeking clarifications on procedural matters. The CEO also serves as the face of electoral administration in the state, conducting press conferences, addressing public concerns, and ensuring transparency in the revision process.​

District Election Officer
At the district level, the District Election Officer (usually the District Collector or District Magistrate) is responsible for implementing the SIR exercise within the district. The DEO supervises Electoral Registration Officers, coordinates with local administration for logistical support, and monitors field-level activities.​

The DEO plays a crucial role in mobilizing government and semi-government employees for deployment as Booth Level Officers and in resolving inter-departmental coordination issues.​

Electoral Registration Officer
For each assembly constituency, an Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) is appointed with direct responsibility for preparing and revising the electoral roll. The ERO conducts the enumeration exercise, scrutinizes documents submitted by applicants, conducts hearings on claims and objections, and ultimately prepares the final electoral roll.​

The ERO exercises quasi-judicial functions, making decisions on inclusion or exclusion of names based on evidence and legal provisions. The ERO's office serves as the primary point of contact for citizens seeking to register as voters or to correct errors in their electoral entries.​

Booth Level Officer
Booth Level Officers represent the Election Commission at the grassroots level, serving as the interface between the electoral administration and individual voters. BLOs are local government or semi-government officials who are familiar with the local population and geography of their assigned polling area.​

BLOs perform multiple critical functions during the SIR exercise:​

Document Requirements for Voters
The document requirements for inclusion in electoral rolls during SIR 2025 vary depending on whether the voter can be linked to previous electoral roll data.​

Voters Linked to 2003 Electoral Roll
A key simplification in SIR 2025 is that voters whose names appeared in the 2003 electoral roll are generally not required to submit any additional documents. Their previous inclusion serves as sufficient proof of eligibility, and they simply need to confirm their continued residence in the constituency through the enumeration form.​

Similarly, voters whose parents' or relatives' names appeared in the 2003 roll are also exempted from additional documentation requirements. This family linkage approach significantly reduces the documentation burden for the majority of voters and facilitates smoother processing.​

Voters Without Previous Roll Linkage
Voters who cannot be linked to the 2003 electoral roll or whose family members were not included in that roll are required to submit documents proving their identity, age, and residence.

The Election Commission has specified 13 acceptable documents for this purpose:​

  1. Aadhaar Card
  2. Indian Passport
  3. Driving License
  4. PAN Card
  5. Bank or Post Office Passbook
  6. Ration Card
  7. Marksheet of Class X/VIII/V (if it contains date of birth)
  8. Birth Certificate from Municipal Authorities or Registrar of Births and Deaths
  9. Income Tax Assessment Order
  10. Latest Rental Agreement
  11. Latest utility bills (electricity, water, telephone, gas connection)
  12. Service Identity Card issued by Government/PSU/Public Limited Company
  13. Pensioner Card

It is important to note that Aadhaar is accepted primarily as proof of identity, and not as proof of citizenship or eligibility to vote. Eligibility for voting is determined by citizenship, age, and ordinary residence, which may require additional documentation beyond Aadhaar.​

Recent Photograph
All applicants for inclusion in the electoral roll, whether new voters or existing voters updating their details, are required to submit a recent passport-size color photograph. This photograph appears in the electoral roll and on the Voter ID card (EPIC - Elector Photo Identity Card), facilitating identification at polling stations.​

Booth Rationalisation and Polling Station Management
The SIR exercise provides an opportunity for booth rationalisation, which involves creating new polling stations, merging underutilized stations, and relocating stations to more convenient locations. As the electoral roll is updated and voter distribution becomes clear, electoral authorities can optimize polling station locations to ensure that no polling station serves an excessively large or small number of voters.​

The Election Commission guidelines generally recommend that each polling station should serve between 800 to 1,400 voters, with special consideration for geographical constraints in hilly or remote areas. During the Bihar SIR exercise, significant booth rationalisation occurred, with creation of new polling stations where voter concentration warranted such action.​

Booth rationalisation serves multiple objectives: it reduces overcrowding at polling stations, decreases waiting time for voters, improves accessibility for elderly and disabled voters, and enhances the overall efficiency of the electoral process. The SIR exercise, by providing updated and accurate voter data, enables evidence-based decisions on booth rationalisation.​

Challenges and Concerns in SIR Implementation
While the Special Intensive Revision aims to improve electoral roll accuracy and inclusivity, its implementation has encountered various challenges and raised certain concerns that merit careful attention.​

Risk of Disenfranchisement
One of the most significant concerns relates to the potential for legitimate voters to be excluded from electoral rolls due to inability to provide required documents. This risk is particularly acute for marginalized communities, including the poor, internal migrants, homeless persons, and those lacking formal documentation. If the document verification requirements are applied rigidly without sufficient flexibility, eligible citizens may find themselves disenfranchised despite being entitled to vote.​

The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of this concern, particularly in the context of Bihar SIR, where petitioners alleged that lakhs of eligible voters were deleted from electoral rolls. The Court directed the Election Commission to publish details of deleted names and ensure that affected persons have adequate opportunity to contest their deletion.​

Timing Before Elections
Conducting a comprehensive SIR exercise immediately before major elections can create logistical challenges and political controversies. The intensive verification requirements, coupled with tight timelines, may result in confusion among voters about their enrollment status. Additionally, any perceived errors or biases in the revision process may become politicized, with opposition parties alleging manipulation of voter lists for electoral advantage.​

The Election Commission must balance the need for updated electoral rolls with the imperative of providing adequate time for roll finalization, public scrutiny, and grievance redressal before elections.​

Documentation Burden
The requirement for documentary proof, particularly for voters who cannot be linked to previous rolls, imposes a significant burden on citizens. Many eligible voters, especially in rural areas and among economically disadvantaged communities, may not possess all the required documents or may face difficulties in obtaining certified copies. While the Election Commission has provided a list of 13 acceptable documents, the very need to produce such documentation may deter some eligible citizens from completing the enrollment process.​

Resource and Staffing Constraints
The SIR exercise requires massive human resources, including lakhs of Booth Level Officers, supervisors, data entry operators, and administrative staff. In Bihar alone, the exercise involved more than 4 lakh personnel. Mobilizing such large numbers, providing adequate training, and ensuring quality control present formidable challenges.​

Field officials have reported shortages of trained personnel, inadequate logistical support, and excessive workload pressures. These resource constraints can compromise the quality of enumeration and verification, potentially leading to errors in the final electoral rolls.​

Digital Divide and Accessibility
The SIR 2025 exercise incorporates digital technologies, including online submission of forms, SMS alerts, and web-based verification portals. While these technologies enhance efficiency and transparency, they also create barriers for citizens lacking digital literacy or access to internet connectivity. Rural populations, elderly citizens, and those with disabilities may face particular difficulties in navigating digital platforms.​

The Election Commission must ensure that adequate offline mechanisms exist alongside digital platforms so that no citizen is excluded due to the digital divide.​

Procedural Clarity and Legal Basis
Some legal commentators have noted that the term "Special Intensive Revision" itself does not appear explicitly in the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. This has raised questions about the precise legal basis and procedural framework for SIR as distinct from regular summary revision or intensive revision. Greater procedural clarity and explicit legal framework would enhance the legitimacy and consistency of the SIR exercise.​

Political Objections and Litigation
The SIR exercise, particularly in Bihar, has attracted political objections and litigation. Opposition parties and civil society organizations have filed petitions challenging various aspects of the exercise, including the requirement for additional documentation, the large-scale deletions from electoral rolls, and alleged procedural irregularities.​

The Supreme Court has been hearing petitions related to Bihar SIR, examining whether the exercise has resulted in systemic exclusion of eligible voters. While judicial oversight provides an important check on potential excesses, prolonged litigation can also delay the finalization of electoral rolls and create uncertainty about their validity.​

Maintaining Transparency
Ensuring transparency throughout the SIR process is crucial for maintaining public confidence. This includes timely publication of draft rolls, wide dissemination of information about deleted names, accessible grievance redressal mechanisms, and clear communication about procedures and requirements.​

The Supreme Court's direction to the Election Commission to publish details of deletions and make them widely known through websites and media reflects the importance of transparency. The Commission's announcement that it received zero appeals in the first phase of SIR suggests either high satisfaction with the process or potential gaps in awareness about appellate mechanisms.​

Significance for Indian Democracy
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls carries profound significance for the functioning and credibility of Indian democracy.​

Foundation of Representative Democracy
Electoral rolls constitute the foundation of representative democracy, as they determine who can participate in the selection of representatives. Accurate, inclusive, and up-to-date electoral rolls ensure that the principle of universal adult suffrage enshrined in Article 326 of the Constitution is effectively realized. By comprehensively revising electoral rolls, the SIR exercise strengthens this foundational element of democracy.​

Enhancing Electoral Integrity
Electoral integrity depends critically on the integrity of electoral rolls. Rolls that contain duplicate entries, deceased voters, or fictitious names create opportunities for electoral malpractice, including impersonation and fraudulent voting. By systematically eliminating such irregularities, the SIR exercise enhances the integrity of the electoral process and public confidence in election outcomes.​

Ensuring Inclusive Participation
Democracy thrives on inclusive participation, with every eligible citizen having the opportunity to vote. The SIR exercise's emphasis on identifying and enrolling previously omitted voters, particularly first-time voters, internal migrants, and marginalized communities, promotes inclusive democracy. By reducing barriers to enrollment and conducting house-to-house enumeration, the exercise brings electoral registration to citizens' doorsteps, rather than expecting citizens to navigate bureaucratic procedures on their own initiative.​

Reflecting Demographic Realities
India's demographic landscape is constantly evolving, with significant internal migration, urbanization, and changes in settlement patterns. Electoral rolls that remain unchanged for extended periods fail to reflect these realities, potentially leading to malapportionment and inadequate representation. The SIR exercise updates rolls to reflect current ground realities, ensuring that electoral constituencies accurately represent their populations and that polling infrastructure is appropriately distributed.​

Facilitating Efficient Election Administration
Clean, accurate electoral rolls facilitate efficient election administration by enabling better planning of polling stations, allocation of personnel and materials, and estimation of voter turnout. When electoral rolls contain significant errors or outdated information, election administration becomes more complex and error-prone. The SIR exercise, by providing reliable voter data, enables smoother conduct of elections and reduces disputes and challenges.​

Building Public Trust
Public trust in electoral processes is essential for democratic legitimacy. When citizens perceive that electoral rolls are manipulated, inaccurate, or exclusive, their confidence in electoral outcomes diminishes. The SIR exercise, by its comprehensive and transparent approach, demonstrates the Election Commission's commitment to fair and accurate electoral rolls, thereby building public trust in the electoral system.​

Technology Integration in SIR 2025
The SIR 2025 exercise incorporates various technological tools to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and transparency.​

Digital Enumeration Forms
Unlike previous intensive revisions that relied primarily on paper-based enumeration, SIR 2025 utilizes digital enumeration forms that can be filled online through the Voters Service Portal. This digital approach enables faster data capture, reduces transcription errors, and facilitates easier verification against existing databases.​

Database Linkage and Verification
A key technological innovation in SIR 2025 is the systematic linkage of current applicants to previous electoral roll data, particularly the 2002-2004 intensive revision. Through digitization of historical electoral roll data, the Election Commission can identify family linkages and previous enrollment records, significantly streamlining the verification process. Approximately 70-80% of voters are expected to have traceable links to earlier rolls through this digitization effort.​

SMS and Digital Communication
The Election Commission utilizes SMS alerts and digital communication channels to notify citizens about their enrollment status, pending requirements, and important dates. This proactive communication reduces dependence on citizens to actively seek information and increases the likelihood of timely completion of enrollment formalities.​

Online Publication and Transparency
Draft and final electoral rolls are published on official websites of Chief Electoral Officers and the Election Commission, enabling citizens to verify their enrollment from anywhere. This online availability enhances transparency and facilitates easier identification of errors or omissions that can be corrected through the claims and objections process.​

Lessons from Bihar SIR (First Phase)
The Bihar SIR, conducted from June to September 2025, provided valuable lessons that informed the design and implementation of the second phase covering 12 states and union territories.​

Scale of Voter List Changes
The Bihar exercise demonstrated the magnitude of changes that can occur during intensive revision. Starting with 7.89 crore voters in June 2025, the process ultimately resulted in a final list of approximately 7.42 crore voters by September 2025—a net reduction of 47 lakh voters. While this reduction included removal of ineligible voters and duplicates, it also raised concerns about potential exclusion of legitimate voters, leading to Supreme Court scrutiny.​

Importance of Transparency
The litigation surrounding Bihar SIR highlighted the critical importance of transparency in the revision process. The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to publish details of deleted names and ensure wide dissemination through websites and media. This judicial intervention underscored that transparency is not merely a procedural nicety but a fundamental requirement for legitimacy of the revision process.​

Need for Simplified Documentation
The Bihar experience revealed that stringent documentation requirements, particularly for voters registered after January 2003, created significant barriers to enrollment. Learning from this experience, the second phase of SIR simplified documentation requirements, with voters linked to the 2003 roll or whose parents were in that roll being exempted from submitting additional documents. This simplification represents a practical accommodation balancing verification needs with accessibility.​

Zero Appeals Phenomenon
The Election Commission's announcement that it received zero appeals during Bihar SIR raised questions about whether this reflected genuine satisfaction with the process or inadequate awareness about appellate mechanisms. This highlighted the need for better communication about grievance redressal and appeal procedures to ensure that affected persons can effectively contest adverse decisions.​

Coordination with Political Parties
The successful completion of Bihar SIR involved coordination with political parties and other stakeholders. The Election Commission's congratulatory message acknowledged the role of political parties alongside election officials and the people of Bihar. This multi-stakeholder approach is essential for maintaining political buy-in and reducing partisan controversies around the revision exercise.​

Second Phase Implementation Strategy
Building on lessons from the Bihar experience, the Election Commission has adopted certain strategic modifications for the second phase of SIR covering 12 states and union territories.​

Simplified Documentation Norms
The second phase features more streamlined documentation requirements, with explicit exemptions for voters traceable to the 2003 electoral roll. This approach recognizes that requiring documentation from all existing voters imposes unnecessary burden and may lead to exclusion of eligible voters who face difficulties in document procurement.​

Phased Timeline with Adequate Grievance Redressal Period
The second phase provides a one-month enumeration period followed by a one-month claims and objections period, ensuring adequate time for public scrutiny and grievance redressal. This extended timeline reduces the pressure on field officials and provides citizens sufficient opportunity to identify and correct errors.​

Intensive BLO Training
Recognizing that Booth Level Officers are the frontline of the SIR exercise, the Election Commission has emphasized intensive training starting from October 27, 2025. Well-trained BLOs can better explain procedures to citizens, handle complex situations, and maintain quality in data collection.​

Communication and Awareness Campaigns
The announcement of the second phase through media briefings by the Chief Election Commissioner reflects the importance accorded to public communication. Widespread awareness about the SIR process, documentation requirements, and grievance mechanisms is essential for inclusive and successful implementation.​

Coordination with State Governments
The selection of states for the second phase took into account their administrative preparedness, including the training status of BLOs, availability of District Magistrates and Electoral Registration Officers, and overall capacity to implement the exercise. This selective approach ensures that states undertake SIR only when they have adequate preparedness, rather than imposing unrealistic timelines.