Election Commission to Conduct Phased Special Intensive Revision of Voter Lists Across India
New Delhi, 11th October 2025: Following the implementation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar, the Election Commission (EC) has announced plans to conduct a phased SIR across the country, starting with states scheduled for assembly elections in 2026.
According to the EC, the first phase of voter list verification will take place in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. The Special Intensive Revision aims to update electoral rolls and remove invalid entries, including deceased individuals, foreign nationals, or those who have migrated.
Bihar SIR Success and Nationwide Rollout
The Bihar SIR, launched on June 24 ahead of the Assembly elections, verified nearly 30 million voters within a month. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar stated on October 6 that SIR work is currently underway in all states, with the Election Commission yet to finalize the schedule for nationwide implementation. A meeting of the three election commissioners will decide the dates for each state’s rollout.
Process of Special Intensive Revision
The EC has outlined two methods for conducting the SIR:
Door-to-door verification: Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit homes with pre-filled enumeration forms containing voter information.
Online submission: Citizens can download the form from the EC website, fill it out, and submit it.
Screening Rules for Voters
Voters listed in the 2003 electoral roll need only to fill out the form; no documents are required.
Voters born before July 1, 1987, must provide proof of date of birth or place of birth.
Voters born between July 1, 1987, and December 2, 2004, must provide proof of both date and place of birth.
Voters born after December 2, 2004, are required to submit proof of date of birth, place of birth, and parental documents.
Opposition Protests Against Bihar SIR
The Bihar SIR faced strong opposition. On July 9, the Grand Alliance called for a statewide bandh to protest voter list verification, disrupting trains in seven cities and blocking 12 national highways. In Patna, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the move, stating, “The Maharashtra election was stolen, and an attempt is being made to steal the Bihar election in the same way. They know that we have understood the Maharashtra model, so they have introduced the Bihar model. This is a way to snatch the votes of the poor.”
The opposition continued to protest the SIR throughout the monsoon session of Parliament, which ran from July 21 to August 21. Opposition MPs demanded a discussion on the Bihar SIR, leading to disruptions that prevented the Parliament from functioning on multiple days, including the final day of the session.
The EC has emphasized that the phased SIR aims to ensure updated and accurate voter lists ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, balancing efficiency with transparency in the electoral process.
