The Election Commission of India (EC) has asked state poll bodies to gear up for a nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, signaling that the exercise could begin as early as October or November. Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) from all states have been directed to complete preparations by September 30, setting the stage for one of the most extensive voter list cleanups in recent years.
According to officials aware of the matter, the direction was issued at a recent conference of CEOs in New Delhi. States have been instructed to prepare electoral rolls published after their last SIR as the benchmark for the upcoming revision. For instance, the 2003 Bihar voter list is currently being used as the cut-off for intensive revision.
Long Gap Since Last Intensive Exercise 
Most states conducted their last SIR between 2002 and 2004, though some revisions stretched later. Delhi last held the exercise in 2008, and Uttarakhand in 2006, &nbsp;with those rolls now available on state CEO websites. Over the past two decades, states have been mapping current electors against those earlier rolls, but the EC believes the time has come for a fresh, coordinated nationwide push.
Core Objective: Weed Out Illegal Migrants 
The Commission has made it clear that the primary aim of the upcoming exercise is to ensure accuracy by identifying and removing illegal foreign migrants, particularly by verifying voters&rsquo; place of birth. The move aligns with crackdowns already underway in several states, especially in the context of migration from Bangladesh and Myanmar.
With assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal due in 2026, the EC&rsquo;s decision is being viewed as both a logistical preparation and a political safeguard.
As one official put it, the SIR is not just about eliminating duplication, but about &ldquo;restoring public faith in the sanctity of the voter list.&rdquo;

EC Prepares Ground for Nationwide Voter Roll Cleanup

EC gears up for voter roll overhaul; states told to finish prep by Sept 30

EC Prepares Ground for Nationwide Voter Roll Clean

EC gears up for voter roll overhaul; states told to finish prep by Sept 30

September 21, 2025 | 23:04 IST