Notices to unmapped electors to be handled through home visits; online hearings to be strengthened
New Delhi| Sept, 26: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday decided to extend the deadlines for filing claims and objections under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Delhi and Maharashtra, while approving a series of measures to facilitate the enrolment of eligible voters and streamline the revision process.
The decisions were taken at a meeting of the Commission held at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi, at 3 pm on September 26, attended by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Dr S.S. Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi.
As per the decisions, the deadline for filing claims and objections in Delhi has been extended to October 30, 2026, while the period for disposal of notices and claims and objections has been extended till November 30.
In Maharashtra, the deadline for filing claims and objections has been extended till October 12, while their disposal has been extended till November 10.
The Commission also decided that persons who have received notices during the ongoing SIR on account of being unmapped or having logical discrepancies will not ordinarily be required to appear before the ERO or AERO.
Instead, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit their homes to collect the required documents and upload them on the ECINet system for consideration by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).
The ECI said hearings would be held only in exceptional circumstances, as decided by the ERO, and preferably through online mode. An adult member of the family may also be authorised by the elector to attend a hearing on their behalf, if required. The Commission directed that facilities for online hearings be strengthened.
To assist vulnerable sections, District Election Officers (DEOs) have been directed to establish adequate help desks and organise special camps for people living in night shelters, labourers, poor and homeless persons, according to local requirements.
The Commission also said the declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR has been upheld by the Supreme Court. For periods outside SIR, forms applicable under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, will be used.
On the ECINet system, the Commission said field officers have role-based access according to their statutory powers. A committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT/IIIT will review the system to verify its compliance with relevant Acts and Rules and submit a report to the Commission.
The ECI said several upgrades had already been made to the portal based on inputs received from State Chief Electoral Officers over the past few months. Any further flexibility required by field officers would also be made operational.
It further decided that new initiatives relating to IT modules and portals would henceforth be discussed by the Committee of Officers before being placed for approval before the Commission.
The Commission said SIR has already been completed in 20 States and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal. It reiterated that anyone whose name was left out during or after SIR, including young and first-time voters, can apply to the concerned ERO for inclusion in electoral rolls under the continuous updation process.
Chief Electoral Officers, District Election Officers and EROs have been directed to immediately launch special drives to facilitate enrolment of such electors.
The Commission also clarified that its June 24, 2025 order initiating SIR across States and Union Territories, beginning with Bihar and subsequently covering West Bengal and 30 other States and UTs, was issued with the unanimous approval of the Commission. It said the order was upheld by the Supreme Court in its May 27, 2026 order.
The Commission further stated that the schedules for SIR in 12 States and UTs issued on October 27, 2025, and for 19 States and UTs issued on May 14, 2026, were also approved unanimously.
It said the final number of electors would be known only after final publication of electoral rolls in the remaining 12 States under Phase-III.
The ECI also cited steps taken in Goa, where the CEO has directed BLOs to conduct house-to-house visits to voters left out of the electoral roll and collect their forms. Of 97 such voters, 81 have already filled Form 6 for inclusion.
The Commission also took a number of administrative decisions, including circulating the agenda in advance for all Commission meetings and issuing minutes thereafter. It directed that Annual Performance Appraisal Reports of all officers be completed within the stipulated deadline of December 31 every year.
Approval of the Commission will also be obtained for foreign trips of its officers, while all directions issued by the Commissioners to Commission officers are to be complied with.
The Commission also clarified that a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary concerned the working of an officer on deputation to the ECI and was not related to any policy matter of the Commission or its IT division. It said work redistribution orders issued by the concerned officer were not implemented following directions of the two Commissioners and that oversight of the IT division by the Deputy Election Commissioner was never withdrawn.
The press note was issued following the September 26 meeting and was approved by the full Commission. PIB
