ECI eases SIR hearing process, extends claims deadline in Delhi and Maharashtra
New Delhi, Sept 26
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced a series of measures to simplify the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, including home visits by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for voters who have received notices over unmapped entries and logical discrepancies.
According to a press note issued by the ECI after a meeting of the full Commission on September 26, such persons will not ordinarily be required to appear personally before the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO).
Under the revised arrangement, BLOs will visit the homes of the concerned electors to collect the required documents and upload them on the ECINet system for consideration by the ERO. Hearings will be held only in exceptional circumstances as determined by the ERO and will preferably be conducted online.
The Commission also said that, where a hearing is required, any adult family member may be authorised by the elector to attend on their behalf. It directed that facilities for online hearings be strengthened.
Special camps for vulnerable groups
The ECI has directed District Election Officers (DEOs) to establish adequate help desks and organise special camps for people living in night shelters, labourers, poor people, homeless persons and other groups requiring assistance with the electoral-roll revision process.
The Commission also reiterated that the declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR has been upheld by the Supreme Court. During non-SIR periods, forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, will continue to apply.
ECINet system to undergo independent review
The Commission said field officers have role-based access to the ECINet system in accordance with their statutory powers.
A committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT/IIIT will review the ECINet system to verify its compliance with the relevant Acts and Rules and submit its report to the Commission.
The ECI said several upgrades to the portal had already been undertaken based on inputs received from State Chief Electoral Officers. Any further flexibility required by field officers will also be considered.
Going forward, the Commission said, new initiatives concerning IT modules and portals will be discussed by the Committee of Officers before being placed before the Commission for approval.
Delhi, Maharashtra deadlines extended
The Commission has also extended the deadlines for filing claims and objections in Delhi.
For Delhi, the deadline for filing claims and objections has been extended to October 30, 2026, while the deadline for disposal of notices, claims and objections has been extended to November 30, 2026.
For Maharashtra, the filing deadline has been extended to October 12, 2026, with disposal to be completed by November 10, 2026.
Special drive for voters left out of rolls
The ECI said SIR has already been completed in 20 States and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal.
It clarified that any person whose name was left out during or after the SIR process, including young and first-time voters, can apply to the concerned ERO for inclusion in the electoral roll through the process of continuous updation.
Chief Electoral Officers have been directed to facilitate the process, while CEOs, DEOs and EROs have been instructed to immediately launch a special enrolment drive.
ECI clarifies controversy over officer’s deputation
The Commission also addressed recent issues concerning the functioning of an officer on deputation to the ECI.
It clarified that its letter to the Cabinet Secretary was not related to any policy matter of the Commission or its IT division, but concerned the working of an officer on deputation.
The ECI said work redistribution orders issued by the concerned officer were not actually implemented after directions from two Commissioners and that oversight of the IT division by the Deputy Election Commissioner was never withdrawn.
Commission reiterates unanimous approval of SIR
The ECI further stated that the decision to undertake SIR across the country, beginning with Bihar and subsequently covering West Bengal and 30 other States and Union Territories, was taken with the unanimous approval of the Commission.
It said the June 24, 2025 order initiating the exercise was upheld by the Supreme Court in its order dated May 27, 2026.
The Commission added that the final number of electors would be known only after final publication of electoral rolls in the remaining 12 States/UTs covered in Phase III.
In Goa, meanwhile, the CEO has directed BLOs to conduct house-to-house visits to voters who were left out. The ECI said 81 of 97 such voters had already submitted Form 6 for inclusion.
The press note was issued with the approval of the full Election Commission following its meeting held on September 26, 2026.