The Election Commission will initiate the second phase of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 12 states and Union Territories from November to February, as announced by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday. The regions involved include the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and West Bengal are scheduled for elections in 2026. Kumar noted that the revision for Assam, which is also due for polls in 2026, will be addressed separately. The second phase of the SIR will commence on November 4 with the enumeration phase, lasting until December 4.
Draft electoral rolls are set to be released on December 9, followed by the final rolls on February 7. Kumar stated that a distinct provision of the Citizenship Act pertains to Assam, emphasizing that there are specific regulations for citizenship in that state. The citizenship verification exercise is nearing completion under Supreme Court oversight. The June 24 SIR order applied nationwide, thus not extending to Assam, necessitating separate revision orders and a distinct SIR schedule for the state. The ongoing SIR marks the ninth such exercise since Independence, with the previous one occurring between 2002 and 2004. Kumar highlighted the successful completion of the first phase of SIR in Bihar without any appeals.
He reiterated that the second phase will encompass 51 crore voters, with the enumeration starting on November 4, followed by draft rolls on December 9 and final rolls on February 7. Kumar dismissed any potential conflict with the West Bengal government, where the ruling Trinamool Congress has raised concerns about the SIR initiative. He stated that there are no barriers between the Election Commission and the state government, affirming that the Commission is fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities while the state will also perform its duties. The CEC reminded that state governments are required to supply the necessary staff for the electoral roll preparation and election conduct.
Regarding calls to delay the SIR in Kerala due to local body elections, Kumar indicated that the notification for those elections has not yet been issued.