Why no SIR in poll-bound Assam? EC explains

According to the Election Commission, the printing and training phase will take place from October 28 to November 3

The Election Commission on Monday announced the second phase of the pan-India special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, covering 12 states/UTs, including poll-bound West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. However, the exercise was not announced for Assam which will also hold its assembly election next year.

"There are separate provisions for Assam's citizenship in the Law, & a drive to check valid citizens has already been done under Supreme Court's observation. Thus, separate orders for SIR in Assam will be issued,” said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

He said  under the supervision of the top, the checking of citizenship in Assam is about to be completed. "The 24th SIR order was for the entire country. Under such circumstances, this would not have been applicable to Assam," he said.

The 12 states and UTs where the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) will begin from Tuesday  are Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa, Puducherry, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Lakshadweep.

The Phase-II of SIR in 12 states/UTs will cover 51 crore voters and enumeration process will begin on November 4.

According to the Election Commission, the printing and training phase will take place from October 28 to November 3.

Earlier in the day, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma  said his government will welcome the EC move to carry out a special intensive revision in the state.

"If SIR is announced nationwide, definitely we will welcome it. We have already conveyed our view to the central government in this regard," he said.

The draft electoral rolls will be published on December 9, marking the beginning of the claims and objections period, which will run until January 8, 2026.

The notice phase for hearings and verification will be held from December 9, 2025, to January 31, 2026, culminating in the publication of the final electoral rolls on February 7, 2026.

According to the CEC,  the pre-enumeration phase will begin from 12 am on Tuesday. This means the states and UTs that will undergo the SIR will have their voter list frozen as of midnight on Monday. The EROs will print unique enumeration forms for every registered voter in these states and UTs.

He said that enumeration forms will mostly be pre-filled, including name, booth, constituency and old photo.

Linking the SIR process in Assam to the NRC could mean a delay, since it has been stuck since the publication of the draft NRC in 2019, which excluded 19.6 lakh of the 3.3 crore applicants. The Registrar General of India (RGI) has yet to notify it.