Electoral rolls and the Special Intensive Revision

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) re-check of every name on the electoral roll, carried out door to door by Booth Level Officers. The ECI says the aim is that “No eligible citizen is left out and no ineligible person is included in the Electoral Roll.” It began in Bihar in June 2025 and is now in its third phase, across 16 states and 3 Union Territories.

Where things stand

Draft rolls in phase III have left out names on a scale that has made the SIR the year’s central election dispute. Drafts in 17 states and Union Territories omitted more than 6.15 crore names by 1 September, Deccan Herald reported, with Maharashtra losing the most (2.07 crore) and Delhi the largest share (32.78%). The ECI says these are not final deletions. Opposition parties allege eligible voters are being disenfranchised; the ECI calls the “vote chori” charge part of a misleading narrative. Final rolls are now being published state by state.

Court challenges continue. In August the Supreme Court directed the ECI to disclose pending appeals in West Bengal, and in September it issued notice on a Delhi plea arguing that voters served “logical discrepancy” notices were not told clearly what they had to do, Supreme Court Observer reported. Protests have also moved to the street: on 8 October Bihar’s Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav was among those detained in Patna during a march against the SIR, IANS reported.

SIR key dates

1. Jun 2025SIR begins in Bihar.
2. 14 May 2026ECI announces phase III in 16 states and 3 UTs.
3. 27 May 2026Supreme Court upholds the Bihar SIR.
4. 31 Aug 2026Maharashtra and Delhi draft rolls published.
5. 25 Sep 2026ECI withdraws the extra SIR declaration from online Form 6 where revision is complete.
6. 5 Oct 2026Supreme Court says it has not approved any modification to Form 6.
7. 12 Oct 2026Extended deadline for claims and objections in Maharashtra; final roll due 16 November.

Key numbers

• 36.73 croreelectors covered by phase III
• 6.15 crore+names left off phase III drafts in 17 states and UTs by 1 Sep
• 2.37 crorevoters aged 18 to 28 added since the SIR began

Key questions

Are names left off a draft roll deleted for good? No. The ECI says draft exclusions are not final deletions. Voters can apply for inclusion with Form 6 and a declaration during the claims period.

Why were names left out? The ECI groups them as absent, shifted, dead or duplicate, for voters whose enumeration forms were not collected.

What is the Supreme Court doing? It upheld the Bihar SIR in May 2026. It is now examining who modified Form 6 and whether the CEC can act alone on powers given to the full Commission.

How do I check my name? Search on voters.eci.gov.in or the ECINET app by EPIC or mobile number, or ask your BLO. See our step-by-step explainer.