SIR: Election Commission Gears Up for Nationwide Special Intensive Revision of Voter List After Bihar
New Delhi, 13th July 2025: Following the Supreme Court’s nod to continue the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is preparing to roll out the exercise across the country. The revision process, aimed at updating and verifying the voter list with greater scrutiny, is expected to begin in August, sources in the commission said.
The SIR is a rigorous process involving door-to-door verification and comparison of older electoral rolls to ensure accuracy and identify ineligible or duplicate entries. The move follows the top court’s order on July 10, which termed the revision as constitutional, paving the way for similar exercises beyond Bihar.
EC Activates Machinery Across States
With the Supreme Court’s green light, the ECI has reactivated its electoral machinery in various states. However, a final decision on implementing the SIR nationwide will be taken after July 28, as the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear related petitions concerning Bihar again.
Some opposition parties and civil society groups have raised concerns, alleging that the process could disenfranchise genuine voters. Petitions challenging the SIR have also been filed in the Supreme Court, arguing that it may be misused to selectively remove names from the electoral rolls.
Revisiting Old Voter Lists
Officials have indicated that voter lists from the last SIR in each state will serve as the cut-off benchmark. In Bihar, the 2003 electoral roll is being used for the current revision. For instance, Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) website hosts the 2008 voter list—the last time a SIR was conducted in the capital. In Uttarakhand, the last such revision dates back to 2006.
Most states had conducted their last SIR between 2002 and 2004, making the upcoming process the first major electoral audit in nearly two decades.
Foreign Nationals Found in Bihar Voter List
Meanwhile, the EC’s ongoing voter verification drive in Bihar has revealed a large number of suspected foreign nationals on the electoral rolls. EC officials told a news agency that during the door-to-door verification process, they found people from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar listed as voters.
“These individuals will undergo further verification after August 1,” an EC official stated. “Names of illegal immigrants will be excluded from the final voter list, which is scheduled for publication on September 30.”
The verification drive in Bihar began on June 24, with the deadline for submitting voter verification forms set for July 25. Officials say that the process is nearing completion.
Nationwide Implications
If the nationwide rollout of the SIR takes place as planned, it will mark one of the most comprehensive electoral audits in recent history. While the ECI maintains that the move is crucial for ensuring free and fair elections, opposition voices continue to warn against the potential for misuse and voter exclusion.
The final word will rest with the Supreme Court, whose decision after the July 28 hearing could either clear the path for nationwide implementation or trigger further legal scrutiny.
