The BRICS TimesAlthough the Election Commission has not formally confirmed the timeline for launching the Special Intensive Revision nationwide, insider inputs suggest the process may be introduced across all states simultaneously.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is reportedly preparing to carry out a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across the country, following its initial implementation in election-bound Bihar, according to sources cited by The BRICS Times.
Ahead of expanding the exercise nationwide, the Commission has scheduled a crucial conference with Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) in New Delhi on September 10. During this meeting, the CEOs will present detailed PowerPoint reports on ten significant aspects concerning electoral preparedness. These include the current number of registered electors in their respective states and union territories, the qualifying date of the last SIR, the total number of voters recorded in the previous revision, and whether those rolls have been digitised and made accessible on the CEOs’ official websites. Additionally, they will report on the progress of mapping existing electors with those from the last revision, recommend supplementary documents to ensure only Indian citizens are included, and update on the rationalisation of polling stations, with a cap of 1,200 electors per booth. The CEOs are also expected to provide revised numbers of polling stations post-rationalisation, along with the status of appointment and training of officers at various levels, including DEOs, EROs, AEROs, BLOs, and BLAs, as well as share any other proposals they consider important.
The meeting will be attended by the Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commissioners, and senior officials of the poll body.
The possibility of a countrywide rollout of the SIR was earlier hinted at by the Commission in its June 24 order on Bihar. The directive had clearly noted: “Under Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, along with other applicable provisions, the Commission is empowered to direct a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, including preparation of fresh rolls. Therefore, the Commission has now decided to begin the Special Intensive Revision across the country to fulfill its constitutional mandate to protect the integrity of electoral rolls. However, since Legislative Assembly elections are due later this year in Bihar, the Commission has decided to first conduct SIR in the State of Bihar as per the attached guidelines and schedule. The schedule for the rest of the country will be issued separately in due course.”
