Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a strategic and comprehensive exercise undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to update, verify, and correct voter lists across the country. Unlike routine annual revisions, SIR involves a time-bound, house-to-house verification drive, usually conducted before major elections or when electoral rolls have not been intensively revised for several years. Its primary aim is to ensure that electoral rolls are accurate, inclusive, and free from errors such as duplicate entries, deceased voters, or ineligible names.

What is Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?

Special Intensive Revision refers to a large-scale revision of electoral rolls carried out under the constitutional and statutory powers of the ECI. It typically involves:

• Fresh enumeration forms

• Door-to-door verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs)

• Verification of voter documents

• Deletion of ineligible entries

• Inclusion of eligible voters who were earlier omitted

The SIR 2025 in Bihar, where over 8 crore voters were re-verified, is a recent example highlighting the scale of this exercise.

Legal Basis of Special Intensive Revision

The authority for conducting SIR flows from the following provisions:

• Article 324(1) of the Constitution: Grants the ECI powers of superintendence, direction, and control over elections.

• Article 326: Guarantees adult suffrage to all citizens aged 18 years and above.

• Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950: Empowers the ECI to direct a special revision of electoral rolls.

• Registration of Electors Rules, 1960: Prescribes procedures for enrolment and revision, though the term “Special Intensive Revision” is not explicitly mentioned, leading to some legal debate on nomenclature.

Objectives of Special Intensive Revision

The major objectives of conducting SIR include:

• Accuracy: Removing duplicate entries, deceased voters, and ineligible persons.

• Inclusion: Ensuring registration of all eligible citizens, including first-time voters, migrants, and marginalised groups.

• Legitimacy: Strengthening public trust by reinforcing the principle of “one person, one vote”.

• Demographic Adjustment: Reflecting changes due to migration, urbanisation, and newly eligible voters.

• Pre-Election Preparedness: Reducing disputes and logistical challenges during elections.

Significance of Special Intensive Revision

The SIR exercise plays a crucial role in strengthening democracy by:

• Reducing ghost and multiple voters, thereby improving electoral fairness.

• Reflecting demographic realities, especially migration and urban growth.

• Improving inclusion of marginalised groups, such as youth, migrants, and persons with disabilities.

• Enhancing transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.

• Facilitating efficient polling logistics, including rationalisation of polling booths and voter distribution.

Process of Special Intensive Revision

The SIR process involves multiple stages:

1. Notification and Planning: The ECI issues a notification specifying the qualifying date.

2. House-to-House Enumeration: BLOs visit every household to verify voter details and distribute enumeration forms.

3. Submission of Documents: Voters enrolled after a specified cut-off year may be required to submit proof of birth, residence, and parentage.

4. Verification and Revision: Electoral Registration Officers scrutinise data, remove ineligible names, and add eligible voters.

5. Draft Roll Publication: A draft electoral roll is published, inviting objections and claims.

6. Grievance Redressal: Objections are addressed, as mandated by law and judicial directions.

7. Final Roll Publication: The final electoral roll is published and frozen for the upcoming election.

Key Features of Special Intensive Revision

• Comprehensive house-to-house coverage

• Time-bound execution, often before major elections

• Special focus on youth, migrants, and excluded voters

• Use of digital tools, online portals, and SMS alerts

• Stricter document verification norms compared to routine revisions

Case Study: Bihar SIR 2025

The Bihar SIR 2025 illustrates both the scale and complexity of SIR:

• Qualifying date was fixed as 1 July 2025.

• Over 8 crore voters were enumerated with the help of BLOs and volunteers.

• Voters enrolled after January 2003 were required to submit additional documents.

• The Supreme Court directed the ECI to publish details of deleted names for transparency.

• Large-scale booth rationalisation was undertaken to prevent overcrowding.

Case Study: Uttar Pradesh SIR 2026

Following the completion of SIR 2026, the ECI published the draft electoral roll for Uttar Pradesh:

• Out of 15.44 crore registered voters, 12.55 crore names were retained.

• Deletions were based on verified reasons such as death, permanent migration, duplication, incorrect details, or failure to submit documents.

• This exercise marked one of the most extensive electoral roll revisions in the state.

Challenges Associated with Special Intensive Revision

Despite its importance, SIR faces several challenges:

• Risk of disenfranchisement due to strict documentation requirements, especially for the poor and migrants.

• Timing before elections, which may lead to confusion and allegations of bias.

• Legal ambiguity regarding the term “Special Intensive Revision” in statutory rules.

• Resource and staffing constraints, particularly pressure on BLOs.

• Digital divide, affecting rural and low-literacy populations.

• Political objections and litigation, including PILs challenging the exercise.

Booth Level Officers (BLOs): Legal Basis and Role

Under Section 13B of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, Electoral Registration Officers are assisted by Booth Level Officers in preparing and revising electoral rolls. BLOs serve as the grassroots representatives of the Election Commission and are crucial for maintaining roll accuracy at the local level.

Functions of Booth Level Officers

BLOs perform multiple responsibilities, including:

• Assisting in the preparation and revision of electoral rolls

• Verifying voter details through door-to-door enumeration

• Identifying inclusion and exclusion errors

• Receiving claims and objections from voters

• Distributing voter slips and assisting voters at polling stations

• Coordinating with Booth Level Agents (BLAs)

• Conducting voter education under the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme

• Promoting ECI’s IT applications and electoral awareness initiatives

Centrality of BLOs During Special Intensive Revision

The role of BLOs becomes especially significant during SIR, as they ensure ground-level verification of voters. By maintaining an accurate and error-free electoral roll at the preparatory stage, BLOs directly contribute to the credibility and legitimacy of elections.

Why BLOs Are Essential for Free and Fair Elections

Elections are not isolated events but a continuous institutional and administrative process. Preparatory stages such as delimitation, voter list revision, and roll verification are as important as polling day itself.

Free and fair elections depend on:

• Accurate electoral rolls

• Transparent nomination and campaigning processes

• Strict enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct

• Effective grievance redressal mechanisms

BLOs form the foundation of this entire system, ensuring that only eligible voters are included and that every eligible citizen is given the opportunity to vote.

Conclusion

The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the work of Booth Level Officers are indispensable to India’s democratic process. While debates around SIR highlight the need for transparency and accountability, they also underline the constitutional responsibility of the ECI to maintain clean electoral rolls.
By operating at the grassroots level, BLOs serve as one of the most critical pillars of India’s electoral integrity, ensuring that elections remain free, fair, and credible in both letter and spirit.