The Election Commission of India (ECI) on December 11, 2025, extended the deadline for submission of enumeration forms under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in five states—Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh—and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, responding to requests from the respective Chief Electoral Officers to accommodate logistical challenges in the ongoing voter verification drive. The SIR, launched on October 25 to coincide with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, aims to enhance the accuracy of voter lists by adding eligible citizens, removing deceased or shifted voters, and verifying details through booth-level agents. This extension, excluding West Bengal despite its inclusion in the initial SIR phase, underscores regional variations in implementation amid preparations for 2026 assembly polls in several states.

For Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, the new submission deadline is December 14, with draft electoral rolls now set for publication on December 19, allowing additional time for enumerators to cover urban pockets where turnout verification has lagged due to migration patterns. Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands receive a slightly longer reprieve, pushing form submissions to December 18 and draft publication to December 23, addressing rural accessibility issues and island-specific logistical hurdles like inter-island travel. Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state, benefits from the farthest extension—submissions until December 26 and drafts on December 31—reflecting the scale of its 15 crore-plus electorate and ongoing drives in flood-prone eastern districts.

The decision highlights the ECI's flexibility in balancing thoroughness with feasibility, as initial SIR timelines risked incomplete coverage in high-density areas. West Bengal's omission from the extension—despite facing similar urban-rural divides—stems from its robust progress, with over 90% form collection reported, allowing it to adhere to the original December 9 deadline. This phased approach ensures claims and objections periods (typically 7-10 days post-draft) align with final roll finalisation by January 6, 2026, in preparation for BMC polls and potential early state elections.

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Nationwide, the SIR has already added over 2.5 crore new voters since October, focusing on 18-19-year-olds and women, while deleting duplicates to curb bogus voting—a perennial issue in Indian elections. ECI data indicates Uttar Pradesh alone aims to verify 5 crore forms, making the extension crucial for equitable participation.

As assembly elections loom in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand in 2026, this revision reinforces the Commission's commitment to inclusive, error-free rolls, potentially influencing voter turnout and outcomes in closely contested seats.

The move, while logistical, also invites scrutiny on interstate disparities, with opposition parties in extended states urging further resources to prevent disenfranchisement among marginalised groups.

Also Read: Kerala Pushes Ahead with SIR despite Demands to Delay Revision Process