The Election Commission of India is ramping up efforts to purify voter lists with a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) slated for 22 states and Union Territories from April 2026, including the bustling capital region of Delhi. This initiative promises to scrub electoral rolls of inaccuracies and ghosts, ensuring only genuine voters participate in democracy.
Thursday’s announcement from a senior official detailed the list: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Ladakh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, NCT Delhi, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, Tripura, Telangana, and Uttarakhand.
In parallel, SIR processes in 13 states and UTs are on the verge of wrapping up, reflecting ECI’s methodical approach to nationwide coverage. CEOs received firm directives to fast-track all groundwork.
Election Commission Secretary Pawan Dewan’s advisory laid out the timeline: ‘Preparatory works for SIR exercise must be completed at the earliest, as the revision in 22 states/UTs begins April 2026.’ It referenced key orders from June 24, 2025, for universal SIR, July 5 for pre-revision starts (barring Bihar), and October 27 for launching in 12 areas.
Spotlighting challenges, reports from Kolkata reveal about 20 lakh documents lingering in re-verification queues with DEOs, mere days from draft roll hearings. West Bengal CEO sources attribute this to ‘logical errors’ spotted by micro-observers during scrutiny.
Micro-observers identified mismatches with ECI’s approved 13 identity documents, prompting returns to DEOs for double-checks. ‘DEOs have been urged to finalize re-verification and submit reports swiftly,’ the source added.
As India eyes cleaner elections, this SIR drive signals ECI’s zero-tolerance for lapses, fortifying the foundation of fair voting and curbing potential manipulations.