EC sets Sept 30 deadline for states to gear up for voter list overhaul

The Election Commission (EC) has directed state poll bodies to complete preparations for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls by September 30 , signaling that the nationwide cleanup of voter lists could begin as early as October or November.

According to officials, most states last conducted an SIR between 2002 and 2004 , and mapping of current electors against those lists is nearly complete. The EC has instructed all Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) to keep the voter rolls from their last SIR ready for comparison. For instance, Bihar’s 2003 voter list is being used as a reference for the ongoing intensive revision.

At a conference held in New Delhi earlier this month, CEOs were told to meet the September 30 deadline. Several states, including Delhi (last SIR in 2008) and Uttarakhand (2006), have already uploaded past electoral rolls on their official websites.

The primary aim of the upcoming revision is to remove ineligible voters, especially illegal foreign migrants , by verifying electors’ place of birth. This exercise comes amid crackdowns on undocumented migrants in states such as Assam and West Bengal.

The timing is crucial, with assembly elections scheduled in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal in 2026 . The EC wants voter rolls updated and accurate well ahead of these contests.