EC Announces Major Electoral Roll Verification Exercise
The Election Commission of India on Thursday unveiled the next phase of its nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) programme, extending the electoral roll verification process to 16 states and three Union Territories.
The large-scale exercise is aimed at updating and verifying voter records ahead of future elections through door-to-door verification and data checks across millions of households.
Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka Among Regions Included
According to the poll panel, the upcoming phase of the revision drive will be carried out in states including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Punjab, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh among others.
The revision process will also cover the National Capital Territory of Delhi along with Union Territories such as Chandigarh and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
Officials stated that the schedule for the exercise has been prepared after factoring in operational requirements and the timeline of the Census house-listing programme.
Massive Ground-Level Verification Planned
The Election Commission said the latest phase will involve extensive field operations across the country.
Around 3.94 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are expected to conduct physical verification of approximately 36.73 crore voters through house-to-house visits. Political parties will also participate in the process through over 3.42 lakh Booth Level Agents appointed to assist with verification and coordination.
The exercise is intended to improve the accuracy of electoral rolls by identifying duplicate entries, updating voter information and ensuring eligible citizens remain properly registered.
Three Regions Kept Out for Now
The poll body clarified that the Special Intensive Revision process will eventually cover nearly the entire country once the current phase is completed.
However, the schedule for Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will be announced separately at a later stage.
Officials cited pending Census-related work and weather conditions in mountainous and snow-bound regions as reasons for postponing the exercise in those areas.
Focus on Electoral Accuracy Ahead of Future Polls
Election authorities view the revision exercise as a key administrative step to maintain updated and transparent electoral databases before upcoming state and national elections.
The move comes amid increasing emphasis on voter data accuracy, migration-related corrections and strengthening election management systems across India.
