EC Rolls Out Phase 2 of Voter Roll Revision, SIR To Be Conducted in 12 States: What We Know

New Delhi: The Pan-India Special Intensive Revision (SIR) will be conducted in 12 states, as the Election Commission of India on Monday announced Phase 2 of the voter revision exercise, emphasising that

it aims to ensure no eligible elector is left out and no ineligible elector is included in the poll rolls.Mentioning that the first phase of electoral roll revision was completed in Bihar with zero appeals, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said, "...The second phase of SIR (Special Intensive Revision) is about to be carried out in 12 States and Union Territories (UTs)."

Addressing a presser, CEC Gyanesh Kumar said, "Today we are here regarding the rollout of the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision. I extend my greetings to the voters of Bihar and bow before the 7.5 crore voters who took part in a successful SIR. The Commission also met election officials from all 36 states and discussed the process in detail."Informing further, the CEC said that Phase 2 of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) will be held in 12 States and Union Territories.

Addressing the matter further, CEC Gyanesh Kumar said that political parties have raised the issue of the quality of electoral rolls on several occasions, adding that the ongoing SIR exercise is the 9th since Independence, with the last such exercise conducted 21 years ago in 2002–04.

Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said, “...In the states where SIR will be conducted, electoral rolls will be frozen at midnight today. Later, voters will be given unique enumeration forms with all details.”Mentioning some details of how the upcoming voter roll revision will be conducted, CEC Gyanesh Kumar said, "BLOs will visit every household three times. To address the issue of migrated voters, people can now submit their enumeration forms online."He also informed that polling officials for Phase 2 of SIR will begin work on Tuesday.

Why No SIR Announced in Assam Where Assembly Elections Are Due?

The Election Commission has announced a voter roll revision exercise in 12 states and UTs that will be going for Assembly elections in the next two years. However, the poll body did not include Assam, where Assembly elections are also due in 2026.

When asked about the non-inclusion of Assam in the second phase of the SIR exercise, the Election Commission responded by saying that voter roll revision will be announced separately for the state.