ECI may unveil nationwide voter list revision plan today

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India is poised to announce the launch of a nationwide Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, following a crucial two-day conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) that concluded last Thursday.
The announcement is expected to be made at a press conference scheduled for 4:15 pm today.
The conference, held at the India International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi, brought together CEOs from all states and union Territories to finalise preparations for the SIR exercise.
The focus was on ensuring accurate and inclusive voter lists, crucial for free and fair elections. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar emphasised the importance of precision in electoral roll management, stating that “accuracy and inclusiveness of voter lists are non-negotiable.”
The first phase of the SIR is expected to cover around 10 states, including Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and West Bengal, which are scheduled for assembly polls in 2026. The ECI has already held one-on-one interactions with CEOs from these states to provide specialised support for regional election preparations.
The ECI has directed all states and union Territories to complete preparations for the SIR exercise, emphasising the need for transparency, coordination, and comprehensive readiness. The poll panel has also instructed CEOs to train Booth Level Officers and appoint Booth Level Agents to ensure smooth implementation of the SIR process.
The nationwide SIR exercise aims to update and verify electoral rolls, removing ineligible voters and ensuring that only genuine citizens are listed.
UNI