The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday, September 26, said all decisions related to the nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were approved unanimously by the full Commission, amid reports of differences among its members over the exercise.
The poll body also announced measures to simplify the process for voters who received notices over discrepancies in their records. Under the revised procedure, Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) will visit voters’ homes to collect documents, reducing the need for in-person hearings.
The Commission further said it would introduce greater transparency in its internal functioning by circulating meeting agendas in advance and issuing minutes. The clarification comes amid questions over the conduct of the voter-list revision exercise and concerns about eligible voters being left out of electoral rolls.
Voter Verification Process Eased
At a meeting held in New Delhi on Saturday, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi discussed the ongoing SIR exercise and announced changes to make the process more accessible for voters facing verification notices.
The Commission said that electors marked as “unmapped” or flagged for “logical discrepancies” would not ordinarily be required to appear before the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO). Instead, BLOs will visit their homes, collect the required documents and upload them to the ECINet platform for examination by the ERO.
Hearings will be held only in exceptional cases, preferably online. The Commission also said an adult family member could attend a hearing on behalf of an elector, provided they were authorised to do so. It added that facilities for online hearings would be strengthened.
To improve access for vulnerable groups, the Commission directed District Election Officers to establish help desks and special camps, depending on local requirements, for people living in night shelters, labourers, economically disadvantaged communities and homeless persons.
The ECI also said that voters whose names were left out during or after the SIR exercise, including young and first-time voters, could apply for inclusion through the continuous updation process. Chief Electoral Officers, District Election Officers and EROs have been directed to organise special enrolment drives for such electors.
Commission Addresses Internal Differences
The clarification follows reports alleging disagreements within the Election Commission over the nationwide SIR exercise and related decisions concerning voter registration, deletions and electoral database management.
In its statement, the Commission said the order for conducting the SIR across all States and Union Territories, issued on June 24, 2025, had received unanimous approval. The exercise began in Bihar and was subsequently extended to West Bengal and 30 other States and Union Territories.
The ECI also said the schedules for SIR in 12 States and Union Territories, issued on October 27, 2025, and in another 19 States and Union Territories, issued on May 14, 2026, were approved unanimously.
The Commission added that the Supreme Court had upheld the SIR order through its May 27, 2026, ruling. It said the final number of electors would be known only after the electoral rolls were published in the remaining 12 States and Union Territories under Phase III.
The poll body further announced administrative measures to improve transparency. Agendas for all Commission meetings will be circulated in advance, and minutes will be issued after meetings. It also said new initiatives involving information technology modules and portals would be discussed by the Committee of Officers before being placed for approval.
These measures come amid scrutiny of the Commission’s internal decision-making and the implementation of the electoral roll revision process.
SIR And Electoral Roll Revision
The Special Intensive Revision is an exercise undertaken by the Election Commission to verify and update electoral rolls, with the stated objective of identifying ineligible or duplicate entries while ensuring that eligible citizens remain registered to vote.
The process involves verifying voter details, checking existing records and allowing electors to submit documents where required. However, the exercise has prompted concerns over notices issued for discrepancies, the possibility of eligible voters being excluded and the accessibility of the verification process.
The controversy intensified after reports suggested that Election Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi had raised objections during internal deliberations on certain decisions linked to the SIR and voter database management. The reports reportedly referred to disagreements over issues such as voter deletions, registration forms and administrative procedures.
The Election Commission has maintained that differences or suggestions raised during internal discussions do not necessarily represent final decisions and that official orders reflect the Commission’s approved decisions.
The latest announcement seeks to address concerns about the practical difficulties faced by voters receiving notices, particularly those who may struggle to attend hearings or arrange documents. The revised procedure places greater emphasis on doorstep assistance, online hearings and special enrolment drives.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The accuracy of electoral rolls is essential to a functioning democracy, but the process of updating them must also protect every eligible citizen’s right to vote. The Election Commission’s decision to simplify verification through home visits, online hearings and special enrolment drives could help reduce the burden on voters, particularly those facing economic or practical barriers.
At the same time, transparency in decision-making, clear communication about discrepancies and accessible grievance redressal mechanisms are vital to maintaining public confidence. No eligible voter should have to struggle to establish their right to participate in the democratic process because of procedural difficulties. How can electoral roll revisions be made more transparent and accessible while ensuring that no eligible voter is left behind?
A meeting of the Election Commission of India was held today, 26 September 2026, at 3:00 PM at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi.
— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) September 26, 2026
Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi were present in today’s meeting.… pic.twitter.com/WZoqEIXVJq
