SIR of electoral rolls in the remaining 22 states, Union Territories to start in April, says EC

On June 24 last year, EC ordered the SIR of the country’s electoral rolls, which entails the preparation of the electoral rolls afresh. The poll body began the exercise with Bihar, as the state’s Assembly elections were due in 2025.

In its letter on Thursday, EC said it directed all CEOs, except Bihar, on July 5, 2025, to initiate pre-revision activities for the SIR of electoral rolls.

After that, EC started SIR in 12 states and UTs on October 27 last year. In Assam, EC decided not to conduct an SIR, as the National Register of Citizens (NRC) has not yet been finalised in the state.

As per the SIR instructions, all existing registered electors are required to submit enumeration forms, and some categories of electors have to submit additional documents to establish eligibility, including citizenship.

EC has not conducted an intensive revision of rolls since the early 2000s, when rolls were prepared afresh. Instead, it has been updating the electoral rolls with additions and deletions every year and before each election.

EC’s SIR order was challenged in the Supreme Court last year, with petitioners questioning the poll body’s power to conduct a citizenship check and arguing that the SIR process violates the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and differs from the process followed in previous intensive revisions.

The apex court has reserved judgment in the matter.