The Election Commission will begin a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across India this week, starting with West Bengal. The nationwide exercise, the first of its scale in over two decades, will be carried out in phases, each lasting around three months. Sources said states such as Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, which are heading into the snow season, will be covered later.
The SIR aims to update the voter database by comparing current rolls with the 2003–2004 lists prepared during the last intensive revision. The Election Commission has said the focus will be on states scheduled for assembly polls next year.
Process and Timeline
Officials said the SIR model will follow the format used in Bihar earlier this year, where 80 per cent of electors were verified without fresh documentation. The remaining voters were required to submit proof of eligibility under Article 326 of the Constitution. The final rolls for the first phase are likely to be published by late January or early February, once claims and objections are settled.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar reviewed preparations during a two-day conference of Chief Electoral Officers. Most states have already mapped a majority of their electorate to existing records, which officials say will speed up the nationwide process.
Documents and Aadhaar Clarification
The list of acceptable documents for identity, age, and citizenship will largely mirror the one used in Bihar. Officials clarified that the Aadhaar card will serve only as proof of identity. It cannot be used to establish citizenship or residence.
Voters will be required to provide alternative documents, such as a passport or birth certificate, to prove citizenship where needed. The Election Commission is expected to finalise the complete list of acceptable documents within the next few days.
The large-scale revision is aimed at ensuring a cleaner, more accurate electoral database ahead of upcoming state elections and future national polls.
