The Election Commission of India (ECI) has commenced Phase III of the Special Intensive electoral voter roll revisions, involving 16 states and three Union Territories, covering 367.3 million electors. This phase excludes Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh due to ongoing Census operations and adverse weather conditions in snow-bound areas.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar urged all eligible voters to participate actively in the revision process, emphasizing the importance of maintaining an accurate electoral roll. The schedule for this phase was aligned with the Census house-listing exercise, ensuring efficient use of resources.
More than 3.94 lakh booth level officers will conduct door-to-door verifications, supported by 3.42 lakh booth level agents from political parties. Maharashtra leads with the highest number of officers deployed, covering 98.6 million electors. Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh follow in terms of scale.
The revision will unfold in seven tranches from late May to December, with different states starting at staggered intervals. For instance, Odisha and Mizoram will begin their processes in late May, while Nagaland and Tripura will conclude in December.
The first two phases of the SIR have already covered 13 states, engaging over 6.3 lakh booth level officers. The current phase aims to further enhance electoral transparency and accuracy, with schedules for the excluded regions to be announced post-Census operations.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, May 15, 2026
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