New Delhi, Nov 30: The Election Commission on Sunday extended the schedule of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in nine states and three Union Territories by a week, responding to concerns that the original timelines were creating difficulties for voters and poll officials.
“In consultation with chief electoral officers of the states and UTs, we have decided to extend all phases of the SIR,” an EC official said. As a result, the distribution of enumeration forms will now continue till December 11, instead of December 4. Draft electoral rolls will be published on December 16, replacing the earlier December 9 date, while the final voters’ list will now be released on February 14, 2026.
Opposition parties have repeatedly criticized the SIR schedule, alleging that “at least 40 booth-level officers have died, largely by suicide, due to stress from tight deadlines.” The EC dismissed these claims, asserting that the exercise is progressing smoothly.
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari reacted to the extension, saying, “This is an indication that the timelines were not practical.”
The decision comes just ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament, which starts Monday. During a recent all-party meeting, opposition leaders said they will press for a debate on the SIR to ensure smooth parliamentary proceedings. The last session had faced disruptions over similar concerns.
Launched on October 27, the SIR will cover nearly 51 crore voters across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Among these, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and West Bengal are due for assembly polls in 2026. In Assam, a separate “Special Revision” is underway.
The SIR’s primary goal is to identify and remove foreign illegal migrants by verifying their place of birth, a step that gains importance amid ongoing state-level crackdowns on migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar.
