Election Commission announces major voter list revision: Second phase of SIR to begin in 12 States after Bihar
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, October 27, 2025: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced the launch of the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, marking a major nationwide exercise to ensure clean and accurate voter lists.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, addressing a press conference in New Delhi, said that the first phase of SIR has been successfully completed in Bihar, where the names of nearly 7.42 crore voters were reviewed. The same model will now be implemented across 12 states and union territories as part of the second phase.
Full Schedule of the Second Phase
- Printing and Training: October 28 – November 3, 2025
- Door-to-Door Verification: November 4 – December 4, 2025
- Draft Voter List Publication: December 9, 2025
- Claims and Objections Period: December 9, 2025 – January 8, 2026
- Hearing and Verification: December 9, 2025 – January 31, 2026
- Final Voter List Publication: February 7, 2026
SIR to Cover These 12 States and Union Territories
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Chhattisgarh
- Goa
- Gujarat
- Kerala
- Lakshadweep
- Madhya Pradesh
- Puducherry
- Rajasthan
- Tamil Nadu
- Uttar Pradesh
- West Bengal
In these regions, approximately 51 crore voters will be covered through 5.33 lakh polling stations, with an equal number of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) engaged in the process.
Objective: Error-Free Electoral Rolls
CEC Gyanesh Kumar emphasized that the main objective of SIR is to ensure a transparent and error-free voter list by adding new eligible voters and removing ineligible names.
“This revision will ensure that every legitimate voter is included and that no one is left out before the upcoming 2026 assembly elections,” he said.
Modernization and Transparency
This is the first large-scale voter list revision since 2003, with a special focus on digital verification and the use of technology-based updates.
The Commission has also announced that overseas voters will now be able to update their details through an online form.
Starting midnight tonight, voter lists will be frozen in all 12 participating states and union territories.
How SIR Will Be Conducted
- Each BLO will visit households three times for verification.
- Eligible voters will be added, while ineligible entries will be removed.
- Online updating options will be available for remote or overseas voters.
The Commission has urged all political parties to appoint Booth Level Agents (BLAs) promptly to support BLOs in the process.
Documents Required for Verification
Voters may be asked to produce the following for verification:
- Passport, Birth Certificate, or Government-Issued ID
- Pension Payment Order or Educational Certificate
- Residence or Land Allotment Certificate
- LIC, Bank, or Post Office Certificate
- Family Register, Caste Certificate, or NRC/Forest Rights Certificate
Focus States Ahead of 2026 Polls
The Election Commission is placing special emphasis on West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, which will go to polls next year.
“The Special Intensive Revision is not just an administrative exercise—it is the cornerstone of democratic transparency,” said CEC Gyanesh Kumar.