On September 26, 2026, the Election Commission of India (ECI)—led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Commissioners Dr S.S. Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi—announced key directives for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and electoral roll management.
Key Decisions and Directives
- Streamlined Verification for Unmapped Voters: For individuals issued notices during the ongoing SIR for being unmapped or having logical discrepancies, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will conduct home visits to collect required documents and upload them directly to the ECINET portal for Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) decisions. Electors will no longer be required to visit ERO or AERO offices for hearings, except in exceptional circumstances determined by the ERO, where online hearings will be preferred. Authorised family members may also attend on behalf of electors.
- Help Desks for Vulnerable Groups: District Election Officers (DEOs) have been instructed to establish adequate help desks and organise special enrolment camps for homeless individuals, day-labourers, residents of night shelters, and marginalised populations.
- Extension of Deadlines (Delhi & Maharashtra): Following requests from respective Chief Electoral Officers, the ECI extended deadlines:
- Delhi: Filing claims and objections extended till October 30, 2026; disposal of notices and claims extended till November 30, 2026.
- Maharashtra: Filing claims and objections extended till October 12, 2026; disposal of notices and claims extended till November 10, 2026.
- IT Portal Review: A committee headed by the Senior Deputy Election Commissioner, including an independent expert from an IIT/IIIT, will review the ECINET portal to ensure full compliance with statutory acts and rules. Future IT modules will require vetting by a Committee of Officers before Commission approval.
- Continuous Updation and Special Drives: With SIR already completed across 20 States and UTs (including Bihar and West Bengal), left-out voters, young citizens, and first-time voters can apply for name inclusion under continuous updation. CEOs, DEOs, and EROs have been directed to launch immediate special enrolment drives.
The Commission also reiterated that Form 6 declarations for SIR uphold standards previously endorsed by the Supreme Court of India in its order dated May 27, 2026.
Additionally, internal administrative protocols were highlighted, mandating that Annual Performance Appraisal Reports (APARs) be completed by December 31 annually, and prior Commission approval be secured for official foreign trips.
