ECI Announces Phase 3 Electoral Roll Revision Across 16 States, 3 UTs

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially announced the launch of Phase III of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a significant nationwide exercise aimed at ensuring the accuracy and comprehensiveness of voter lists across the country. This phase will encompass 16 states and three Union Territories, marking a critical step towards updating electoral data ahead of future elections. The states included in Phase III are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, and Uttarakhand. The three Union Territories covered are Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi. According to the ECI, this revision process will involve the meticulous verification of approximately 36.73 crore electors. To facilitate this extensive undertaking, over 3.94 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will conduct door-to-door visits. They will be supported by nearly 3.42 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs), who are appointed by various political parties, underscoring the ECI's emphasis on transparency and stakeholder participation in the revision process. Notably, certain regions have been excluded from this phase for specific reasons. Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh will have their SIR schedules announced at a later date. This decision has been made after considering the completion of the second phase of the Census in these areas, as well as the unique weather-related challenges prevalent in their snow-bound and upper-reach regions. The ECI's rationale behind scheduling Phase III of the SIR is strategically aligned with the ongoing Census house-listing operations. By synchronizing these two massive data collection exercises, the Commission aims to leverage common field-level administrative machinery, thereby ensuring efficiency and optimal utilization of resources. The Special Intensive Revision process itself is a multi-faceted exercise designed to achieve several objectives. It involves house-to-house enumeration, the use of pre-filled forms, and the verification of existing voter data. The primary goal is to maintain accurate electoral rolls by identifying and removing names of deceased voters, individuals who have permanently shifted residence, duplicate entries, and non-citizen voters, while simultaneously ensuring that all eligible citizens are duly included in the electoral lists. This is not the first instance of a Special Intensive Revision by the ECI. The nationwide SIR process was initially announced on October 27, 2025, by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Previous phases of the SIR have also been conducted, covering other states and UTs, with significant adjustments to the electoral rolls. For instance, Phase II of the SIR, which began on October 27, 2025, covered nine States and three Union Territories, including Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, leading to a substantial reduction in the total number of electors. The ECI has consistently highlighted the SIR as a 'participative exercise' and has urged all political parties to actively appoint BLAs at every polling booth. This collaborative approach is intended to foster complete transparency and broader stakeholder involvement, crucial for the credibility and success of the revision process. The meticulous nature of this exercise underscores the ECI's commitment to upholding the integrity of India's democratic framework by ensuring a robust and updated electoral roll. The completion of Phase III will bring the SIR coverage to almost the entire country, with the remaining regions to be addressed subsequently.

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