Pan-India SIR set to be rolled out in phases in Nov, states headed for polls in 2026 first, Pg1.

Key Highlights:

• The Election Commission (EC) met with Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) to discuss preparations for a nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
• The SIR is likely to begin in phases from early November, starting with states going to polls in 2026 such as Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
• The cutoff year for presumed eligibility will likely follow the principle used in Bihar, where the last intensive revision was in 2003.
• The EC could allow electors to submit extracts from the electoral roll of any state’s last intensive revision, not just their current state of residence.

Detailed Insights:

• The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a departure from the past two decades' practice of annual revisions and pre-election updates through additions and deletions.
• Assam has expressed its intent to conduct an intensive revision of rolls after the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is published, leading to a pending decision on its inclusion in the first phase.
• The EC had previously directed CEOs to map current electors to the last intensive revision, which occurred between 2002 and 2008, to reduce the need for electors to submit eligibility documents.
• The process of mapping electors to the last intensive revision has encountered challenges, particularly in urban areas with high migration rates.
• The EC's decision to conduct the SIR has been challenged in the Supreme Court.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Special Intensive Revision (SIR): A comprehensive review of electoral rolls, involving fresh preparation rather than simple additions or deletions.
• Electoral Roll: An official list of individuals eligible to vote in a particular constituency or election.
• Chief Electoral Officer (CEO): An officer responsible for overseeing and managing the election process in a state or union territory.