EC to launch pan-India SIR of voter list, likely to start with 2026 poll-bound states

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is expected to announce a first phase of nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters list during a press conference on Monday evening, officials confirmed. The first phase of the exercise could target 10 to 15 states, including those with Assembly elections scheduled for 2026.

According to the sources, states such as Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, where polls are due in early 2026, are likely to be covered in the initial phase.

The SIR aims to eliminate discrepancies and verify voter credentials to ensure an accurate electoral roll. However, states with ongoing or upcoming local body elections will be excluded from this phase, as their election machinery is currently engaged, with subsequent phases planned for these regions.

The ECI has already conducted two meetings with state Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) to finalise the rollout plan. Several CEOs have published their latest SIR voter lists on official websites. 

Notably, Delhi’s last intensive revision occurred in 2008, Uttarakhand’s in 2006, and most states conducted theirs between 2002 and 2004. Current elector mapping with previous lists is reportedly near completion.

In Bihar, which recently updated its voter list, the final electoral roll, published on September 30, includes nearly 7.42 crore names. The state is set for Assembly elections in two phases on November 6 and 11, with vote counting scheduled for November 14.