The Election Commission of India (ECI) has extended the schedule for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in nine states and three Union Territories by one week. This decision comes amidst concerns raised by opposition parties and ground-level poll officials regarding the tight timelines initially set for the revision process.
The revised schedule means that the distribution of enumeration forms will now continue until December 11, instead of the previously set deadline of December 4. The draft electoral rolls are now slated for publication on December 16, moving from the original date of December 9. Consequently, the final voters' list will be released on February 14, 2026, instead of February 7.
The Election Commission stated that this extension aims to ensure greater transparency and address the increased workload of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) due to the nature of the revision process. ECI officials mentioned the schedule was adjusted to allow BLOs to share details of deceased, duplicate, and shifted electors with Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of various parties, enhancing transparency. BLAs are party workers appointed by political parties to assist BLOs in updating the voter list; their presence aims to bolster transparency in the process.
The decision to extend the SIR schedule was made after internal discussions with the chief electoral officers of the states and UTs involved. The states and Union Territories where the SIR is underway include the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Opposition parties have alleged that the initial "tight timelines" were causing problems for people and officials on the ground. Some have also claimed that at least 40 BLOs have died during the SIR, largely due to suicides caused by the stress of meeting the deadlines, leading them to question the timing of the voter list revision. However, the ECI has refuted these claims, asserting that the exercise is proceeding smoothly.
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari responded to the ECI's decision by stating it indicates that the poll panel recognized the original timelines were not practical.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has stated that the ECI's decision validates their stance that the process was "ill-conceived" and "hasty". Conversely, the West Bengal BJP has stated that the decision falls under the ECI's discretion and affirmed that the poll panel is determined to effectively implement the SIR, retaining legitimate citizens' names and removing unauthorized residents.
The SIR exercise is expected to cover nearly 51 crore electors. Most states conducted their last SIR of voter lists between 2002 and 2004 and have nearly completed mapping current electors according to those revisions. The primary goal of the exercise is to eliminate foreign illegal migrants by verifying their place of birth. This initiative is particularly significant given the ongoing crackdown on illegal migrants in various states, including those from Bangladesh and Myanmar.
