New Delhi — The Election Commission (EC) has signalled that a nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists could commence as early as October or November, urging all state election bodies to complete preparations by September 30.
According to officials, state Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) were instructed to ensure that voter lists published after their last SIR are ready for the upcoming revision. The deadline was set during a conference of CEOs held in New Delhi earlier this month.
Most states conducted their last SIR between 2002 and 2004, and the mapping of current voters against those lists has largely been completed. Several state CEOs have already made these lists publicly available online. Delhi’s last SIR was in 2008, while Uttarakhand’s took place in 2006, with both lists now accessible on respective state CEO websites.
The primary goal of the intensive revision is to identify and remove foreign illegal migrants by verifying their place of birth. This initiative comes amid ongoing crackdowns across several states targeting illegal migrants, including those from Bangladesh and Myanmar.
The upcoming SIR is particularly significant as assembly elections are scheduled in 2026 for Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
