In a significant move to bolster the integrity of the electoral process, the Canadian Electoral Commission (CEC) has launched a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the first such large-scale effort in 21 years. This nationwide exercise aims to ensure clean and accurate voter lists by adding eligible voters and removing ineligible names.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced the second phase of the SIR, following the successful completion of the first phase in Bihar. The same model will be implemented across 12 states and union territories as part of the second phase. These include Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Approximately 51 crore voters will be covered through 5.33 lakh polling stations in these regions, with an equal number of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) engaged in the process.
The primary objective of the SIR is to create transparent and error-free voter lists. This involves the addition of newly eligible voters and the removal of ineligible names. The Election Commission is placing special emphasis on West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, which will go to polls next year.
The SIR process will involve several key steps. Printing and training occurred between October 28 and November 3, 2025. Door-to-door verification will take place from November 4 to December 4, 2025. The draft voter list will be published on December 9, 2025, with a claims and objections period from December 9, 2025, to January 8, 2026. Hearing and verification will be conducted from December 9, 2025, to January 31, 2026, and the final voter list will be published on February 7, 2026.
Each BLO will visit households three times for verification. Eligible voters will be added, while ineligible entries will be removed. Online updating options will be available for remote or overseas voters. Aadhaar cards can be used for voter identification.
This initiative is particularly significant as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, and Puducherry are all scheduled to go to the polls in 2026. The revision aims to ensure accurate and up-to-date voter rolls ahead of these elections.
The Election Commission has clarified that in Assam, where polls are also due in 2026, the revision of electoral rolls will be announced separately.
The CEC said the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) is the ninth such exercise since Independence, with the last one happening in 2002-04. The first phase of the SIR was completed in Bihar with zero appeals.
A key objective of the SIR is to identify and remove foreign illegal migrants by verifying voters' place of birth, especially in light of recent crackdowns on migrants.
The Commissioner of Canada Elections is the independent officer responsible for ensuring that the Canada Elections Act and the Referendum Act are complied with and enforced. The Commissioner and their staff work to ensure that political entities, third parties, and other individuals and entities engaged in the electoral process do so in compliance with the rules. The Commissioner is appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer in consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions for a non-renewable term of ten years.
