ECI Launches SIR 2.0 Voter Purification Drive Across Nine States and Three UTs
Massive cleanup targets 51 crore voters nationwide.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) launched the second phase of its Special Intensive Revision (SIR 2.0) on Tuesday, a sweeping voters' list purification drive spanning nine states and three union territories, aimed at ensuring electoral integrity ahead of upcoming polls. Covering over 51 crore voters in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep, the exercise builds on Bihar's recent success where more than 68 lakh ineligible names were deleted following rigorous door-to-door verifications.
This timely rollout, just two days before Bihar's first-phase assembly elections on November 6, underscores the ECI's proactive stance on combating bogus voting and inaccuracies in electoral rolls. States like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, and Puducherry—slated for assembly polls in 2026—stand to benefit most, as cleaner lists will bolster fair representation and reduce disputes. The enumeration phase kicks off immediately, with field teams visiting households until December 4 to verify details, cross-check documents, and flag discrepancies.
Draft electoral rolls will be published on December 9, opening a window for public scrutiny until January 8, during which citizens can file claims for additions or objections against deletions. Hearings and final verifications are set to wrap up by January 31, 2026, paving the way for authenticated final rolls on February 7. This structured timeline ensures transparency and inclusivity, allowing ample opportunity for corrections while minimizing delays in the democratic process.
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Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar hailed the initiative as a "milestone in Indian democracy" during his address at IIT-Kanpur's foundation day event, describing Bihar's phase as the world's largest single-state voter purification effort. He envisioned the nationwide expansion as a historic feat, projecting that once completed, it would instill national pride in the robustness of India's electoral framework. Kumar emphasized that such drives not only weed out fraud but also enhance voter confidence, fostering a stronger participatory democracy.
As SIR 2.0 unfolds, the ECI's commitment to technology-driven verifications—like linking Aadhaar and mobile numbers—promises even greater accuracy, potentially setting a global benchmark for electoral hygiene. With Bihar's model proving effective, this phase could prevent millions of invalid votes, ensuring that the 2026 polls reflect the true will of the people across diverse regions.
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