What is Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?

Revision of electoral rolls is a statutory administrative exercise undertaken to ensure that voter lists remain accurate, complete and up to date. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), electoral rolls must be revised before every election or whenever required. Political parties have also raised concerns about the quality of electoral rolls.

What is Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?

Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an exercise undertaken by the ECI to comprehensively verify and update electoral rolls.

Key objectives:

• Remove duplicate entries and the names of deceased voters.
• Address issues arising from frequent migration and registration at multiple locations.
• Identify ineligible entries, including wrongful inclusion of foreign nationals, in accordance with applicable law.
• Ensure that all eligible electors are included in the electoral rolls.

According to the information provided, SIR was conducted eight times between 1951 and 2004. The exercise was undertaken in Bihar in 2025, marking its resumption after more than two decades.

Process of Conducting SIR

The exercise involves the following steps:

1. House-to-house enumeration: Booth Level Officers (BLOs) visit households to verify voter details.
2. Enumeration forms: Forms are distributed and collected to obtain the required information.
3. Draft electoral roll: A draft list is published for public scrutiny.
4. Claims and objections: A specified period is provided for eligible electors and other stakeholders to raise concerns or seek corrections.
5. Verification and final publication: Claims and objections are examined, followed by publication of the final electoral roll.

Legal and Constitutional Framework

• Article 324 of the Constitution: Vests the Election Commission of India with the superintendence, direction and control of elections.
• Representation of the People Act, 1950: Provides the statutory framework for preparing and revising electoral rolls.
• Registration of Electors Rules, 1960: Prescribes procedures governing electoral registration and related matters.
• Article 326: Provides for elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies on the basis of adult suffrage, subject to constitutional and legal conditions.

Supreme Court Judgment on SIR

In its judgment dated May 27, 2026, in Association for Democratic Reforms & Ors. v. Election Commission of India & Ors., W.P. (C) No. 640 of 2025, the Supreme Court upheld the Election Commission’s authority to conduct the SIR exercise in Bihar under its constitutional and statutory powers. The Court recognised the objective of maintaining the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls, while considering the procedural safeguards required to prevent arbitrary exclusion.

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