The Election Commission of India (ECI) has kicked off a fresh nationwide voter‑roll cleaning drive, called Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2.0, today. The program will sweep through nine states and three Union Territories and aims to make India’s voting list more accurate, open and trustworthy before the next wave of elections.
Why a new SIR now?
Over the past week, the ECI finished a similar roll‑cleaning in Bihar that removed 6.8 million names. That was the first phase of the first run‑off in the state, and it set the tone for this country‑wide effort. According to the commission, duplicate records, people who have moved, and deceased voters must be pruned out so only legitimate voters remain on the registers.
Where is SIR 2.0 happening?
There are 51 crore people on the electoral rolls that will be checked. The states and territories involved are:
- Tamil Nadu
- Kerala
- West Bengal
- Uttar Pradesh
- Madhya Pradesh
- Rajasthan
- Chhattisgarh
- Goa
- Gujarat
- Puducherry
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Lakshadweep
Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Puducherry are set to hold Assembly elections in 2026, so a clean roll is essential.
What’s the timeline?
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Enumeration starts | Today |
| Enumeration ends | Dec 4 |
| Draft roll released | Dec 9 |
| Public objections | Dec 9 – Jan 8 2026 |
| Hearings finished | Jan 31 2026 |
| Final roll published | Feb 7 2026 |
When enumeration begins, the current voter lists in the states are frozen to allow accurate updates. Online and paper forms will then be distributed, checked and verified.
What did the Chief Election Commissioner say?
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar praised the volunteers and voters in Bihar for their cooperation, and called the SIR “a purification drive.” He reminded everyone that India has held eight major roll‑cleaning drives since 1951, with the most recent one taking place over two decades ago. The commission added that political parties and the public have long urged a regular review of the rolls to keep the democratic process honest.
How can voters get involved?
If you notice an error or dispute with your name on the roll, you can file a claim between December 9 and January 8, 2026. The commission will hold hearings to verify each case, finishing by the end of January. On February 7, the final, cleaned-up voter list will be published and ready for the next elections.
The SIR 2.0 campaign underscores India’s commitment to a fair voting system, ensuring only genuine voters cast ballots in the country’s democratic future.
Source: ianslive
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