Special Intensive Revision (SIR): Why is it important? Why ECI is doing it now and what you need to do

Article 324 of the Indian Constitution grants ECI  ‘plenary powers’ to supervise and update electoral rolls. Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, also allows the Commission to order an intensive revision whenever it finds inaccuracies in the existing rolls.

Why is SIR being conducted now?

The Election Commission has reasoned that the usual yearly revisions can no longer fix what it calls “legacy data” issues — errors built up as India has not had a nationwide house-to-house revision since 2002-2004. In those two decades, voter rolls across states have accumulated:

• Dead or shifted voters who were never deleted
• Duplicate registrations of the same person in multiple locations
• Statistical distortions where elector numbers rise faster than projected population

With major state elections due in 2026, the ECI wants a voter list that is legally defensible, transparent and free of inflated numbers. 

What information does the SIR form ask for?

The SIR form has four key sections:

1. Pre-filled details (to be verified)

When the Booth Level Officer (BLO) visits, they bring a pre-printed form carrying:

• Your name
• EPIC, or Electors Photo Identity Card, number
• Address
• Part and serial number
• Assembly constituency
• Existing photograph

Voters must check spelling, address accuracy and if the photograph is clear.  The ECI is replacing old or unusable images during SIR.

2. ‘Legacy linkage’ — the new and crucial addition

This is the biggest addition in the 2025 SIR. Voters are now required to trace their name or a parent/relative’s name to the voter list from the last intensive revision that occurred more than two decades ago.

The commission has created an all-India database of these old rolls, available on its website voters.eci.gov.in.

To check the legacy linkage, citizens will need to enter:

• Name of self or relative as it appeared in the old roll
• Relationship (father, mother, spouse)
• Old EPIC number (if available)
• Assembly constituency, district and state from where they were registered

3. Updated personal information

Citizens  must provide:

• Date of birth
• Mobile number
• Parents’ or spouse’s names
• Their EPIC numbers
• Aadhaar (optional, but often requested for deduplication)

4. Mandatory declarations

Every voter must confirm that:

• They are an Indian citizen
• Their name is not registered elsewhere
• All information provided is accurate

  Booth Level Officers check and collect enumeration forms as voters arrive to submit them for the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. (Source: PTI/ Representational)

What should citizens do right now?

1. Complete the enumeration before December 11. Earlier the deadline for the SIR enumeration was December 4. Later, it was extended to December 11.

BLOs will make up to three visits. If they have visited:

• Verify the pre-filled data
• Provide the legacy linkage details
• Sign the form
• Note the date of submission

If the BLO assigned to your area hasn’t visited:

• Go to voters.eci.gov.in
• Link your mobile number (using Form 8, if required)
• Fill the Enumeration Form online
• Submit it via Aadhaar-based e-Sign (optional)
• Use “Know Your Polling Station” to call your BLO and request a visit

2. Check if your form has been uploaded

Log on to the portal and check your EPIC status.

3. Check the Draft Roll on December 9

On December 9:

• Visit the CEO website or your polling station
• Confirm that your name appears in the draft roll

If your name is missing from the draft voters roll, file Form 6 between December 9, 2025, and January 8, 2026.

4. Check the final roll on February 7

If your name is deleted, you can appeal within 15 days, first to the District Magistrate and then to the Chief Electoral Officer if needed.

Why SIR is important

SIR is not a routine paperwork exercise. The ECI is revamping the voter list after two decades of accumulated errors. If you skip the form, fail to verify your data or miss the deadlines, your name may not appear in the draft or final rolls. This means you may be unable to vote in upcoming elections.

It becomes essential for voters to verify early, submit the form, and check the draft roll.

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