How SIR helps clean the voter list: Additions and corrections

As per the notification, the new electoral roll will only be released after claims and objections have been resolved.

After the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar, which faced sharp criticisms from political parties, the Election Commission of India (EC) is now conducting a nationwide SIR.

Booth Level Officers are visiting homes with updated lists, seeking confirmations and corrections as they work through one of the world’s largest electoral databases.

The second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls, announced on October 27, 2025, is for 12 states and Union Territories: Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

How does SIR help?

The SIR aims at ensuring that “no eligible citizen is left out while no ineligible person is included in the Electoral Roll". As per the notification, the new electoral roll will only be released after claims and objections have been resolved.

This exercise has been purported to be a paperless, people-friendly, and procedurally robust undertaking.

With nearly one billion voter entries, a digital approach becomes essential. The electoral roll is no longer a state-wise record but a dynamic national database.

The backbone of India’s electoral roll is ECINet — a fully digital, nationwide system. With records of nearly one billion voters, ECINet ranks among the world’s largest dynamic databases. Each voter is identified by a unique EPIC number, ensuring a single verifiable entry per individual. ECINet can detect duplicates, flag inconsistencies, and facilitate corrections through authorised verification.

How can SIR help in adding names?

If your name or the names of your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents are not on the 2002 or 2003 voter list, one can still fill  the Enumeration Form. However, he/she will receive a notice from the Election Commission's district office, and a hearing will be held. During the hearing, the individual needs to present one of the ten documents specified by the EC.

Those electors whose names do not feature on the online list but feature in the hard copy of the roll can fill the SIR enumeration forms, referring to the details mentioned in the hard copy.

How can SIR help in correcting information?

Due to various reasons, a person's name may be removed from the voter list without notice. Voters can make changes or correct mistakes in their voter cards via Form 8. One can rectify inaccuracies, such as a misspelled name, incorrect age, or wrong address. It can also be used to correct date of birth, gender, name of a relative, or the photo. The application should be addressed to the Electoral Registration Officer of the constituency in which the name of the applicant is already included.

The authority to edit or make these corrections lies exclusively with the designated Booth Level Officers or BLOs of your area. Even if you have submitted the form online and it contains errors, you must contact your BLO for the correction. They will be able to rectify your details through their official app.