The 12 states and UTs include Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Puducherry, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar (Photo: IANS)
After the highly controversial Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the Election Commission of India on Monday announced phase two of the SIR in 12 states and union territories. The announcement was made by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar at a press conference here.
The CEC told the media: “Today we are here regarding the rollout of the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision. I extend my greetings to the voters of Bihar and bow before the 7.5 crore voters who took part in a successful SIR. The Commission also met election officials from all 36 states and discussed the process in detail.”
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CEC Kumar said political parties had raised the issue of the quality of electoral rolls on several occasions, while adding that the first phase of SIR was completed in Bihar with zero appeals.
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Describing the process, the CEC stated, “In the states where SIR will be conducted, electoral rolls will be frozen at midnight today. Later, voters will be given unique enumeration forms with all details.”
Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) will visit every household three times. To address the issue of migrated voters, people can now submit their enumeration forms online, the CEC elaborated.
Training of polling officials for Phase-II of SIR will also begin tomorrow, he added.
The CEC asserted that the SIR will ensure no eligible elector is left out and no ineligible elector is included in poll rolls.
He highlighted the Commission’s commitment to maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the electoral process.
The CEC apprised that the Election Commission has been preparing for this exercise, with a recent two-day Conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) held in New Delhi to finalize the roadmap for SIR.
“We have been working tirelessly to ensure that the electoral rolls are updated and accurate. The SIR is a crucial step in this process, and we are committed to conducting it in a free, fair, and transparent manner,” said CEC Kumar.
The Election Commission had previously concluded the SIR exercise in Bihar, where the final voter list was published on September 30 with nearly 7.42 crore names. The Commission’s efforts to update the electoral rolls are part of its broader initiative to strengthen the democratic process in India.
The SIR exercise will involve door-to-door verification, claims and objections, and updating photo ID cards, among other tasks. The Election Commission is working to ensure that the electoral rolls are accurate, and every eligible citizen is included in the voter list, the CEC said.
The Election Commission will now begin the SIR exercise in the 12 states and Union Territories, with a focus on ensuring that the electoral rolls are updated and accurate. The exercise is expected to be completed in a phased manner, with other states and Union Territories being included in subsequent phases.
As per CEC Gyanesh Kumar, the schedule of phase 2 of SIR (Special Intensive Revision) is as follows:-
Printing/Training – 28th Oct to 3rd Nov 2025
House to House Enumeration Phase – 4th Nov to 4th Dec 2025
Publication of Draft Electoral Rolls – 9th Dec 2025
Claims & Objection Period – 9th Dec 2025 to 8th Jan 2026
Notice Phase (Hearing & Verification) – 9th Dec 2025 to 31st Jan 2026
Publication of Final Electoral Rolls – 7th Feb 2026
#WATCH | CEC Gyanesh Kumar announces the schedule of phase 2 of SIR (Special Intensive Revision) to be carried out in 12 States/UTs.
Printing/Training – 28th Oct to 3rd Nov 2025
House to House Enumeration Phase – 4th Nov to 4th Dec 2025
Publication of Draft Electoral Rolls -… pic.x.com/TZgHoU1E4g— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2025
Later, answering questions from reporters present at the press conference, the CEC also addressed the pertinent questions that had flared up during the Bihar Special Intensive Revision exercise. On Aadhaar being a proof of citizenship, the CEC clarified that Aadhaar is not the proof of birth, citizenship or domicile. He referred to the SC observation that Aadhaar is used in accordance with the Aadhaar Act, 2016 and as per Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act, Aadhaar is not a proof of domicile, citizenship or date of birth. It can only be used for identity and e-signing, he stated.
As far as the SIR exercise in West Bengal is concerned, the June 24 order is not only for Bihar but for all states, stated the CEC.
Regarding Assam being excluded from the list of states going for phase two of SIR, he said that the citizenship exercise is being completed in Assam. Due to this situation, SIR phase 2 order will not apply to Assam, and directions for Assam SIR will be issued later.
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