The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls across India next week. This Pan-India exercise will ensure an updated voter list ahead of the elections at the state and national levels in the near future. An ECI Official confirmed many states will see the first phase, some of which include Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which have 2026 assembly elections coming up.
Will Most Likely Start From Bengal and Tamil Nadu
West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are expected to have SIR in the first phase. In Bengal, it could start by mid-November 2025, while ECI confirmed SIR would start in Tamil Nadu within a week. The contention to update the respective voters is to include eligible voters and remove duplicate or outdated entries.
Potential Confrontation with Mamata Banerjee?
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed her worries regarding the SIR, stating it could be a repeat of the NRC process and could impact legitimate voters. Her objection means that a clash could erupt between the state government and the Election Commission during the voter list revision.
SIR: Revision of voter lists across the country in a phased manner
The SIR will be conducted across the country in a phased manner, with each phase expected to last approximately three months. The reason for a phased SIR is to provide the Election Commission ample time to review voter lists to ensure each revision is correct, as it will need to be registered before the assembly polls and other elections.
SIR: accuracy of updated voter rolls
A critical process for election integrity is the SIR. It ensures verification of entries in the voter list, adds missing names in a timely, equitable manner, erases discrepancies, and addresses duplications. Election officials will remain adamant that valid voters will at no point be erased from the voter list during the revision.
