Second Phase of Voter List Revision to Begin Tonight in 9 States, 3 UTs

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Monday announced that after successfully completing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Bihar, the second phase of the nationwide voter list update will begin at midnight on October 28. This phase will cover nine states and three Union Territories, focusing on enrolling eligible voters and removing ineligible names from the electoral rolls.

Gyanesh Kumar said that the last Special Intensive Revision exercise was conducted 21 years ago, and a nationwide update had now become essential. The Chief Election Commissioner emphasised that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) would visit every household three times during the process to verify voter details and assist citizens in confirming or adding their names to the electoral list.

For voters who live outside their homes or work during the day, the Election Commission has introduced an online registration facility to make the process more convenient. During the first phase, applicants will not be required to submit any documents. Instead, they will need to confirm whether their or their parents’ names appeared in the 2003 electoral roll, which is available on the Election Commission’s official website.

The CEC further stated that no polling booth will have more than 1,000 voters after the completion of the Special Intensive Revision. To manage this, the number of polling booths will be restructured to prevent overcrowding and ensure smoother electoral operations.

The Special Intensive Revision will be conducted across the following states and Union Territories, covering a total of 51 crore voters:

Explaining the three-phase process, Kumar said that in the first phase, voter names will be linked to the 2003 electoral roll. In the second phase, notices will be issued to individuals whose names could not be linked, and supporting documents such as Aadhaar will be accepted for verification. The third phase will see the publication of a provisional voter list, allowing citizens to file appeals or correct errors.

Gyanesh Kumar clarified that Assam will have a separate process under the provisions of the Citizenship Act, as the state’s citizenship verification exercise is being conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

“The 24th SIR order applies nationwide except Assam. Separate directives will be issued for Assam,” said the Chief Election Commissioner.