The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed states and Union Territories where the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has been completed to launch a special drive for eligible voters who may have been left out. The exercise will also cover young and first-time voters through the continuous updation processWhy has the Election Commission ordered this special drive?The ECI has asked Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), District Election Officers (DEOs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to immediately facilitate enrolment of eligible citizens whose names were not included during or after the SIR exercise.The Commission said SIR has already been completed in 20 states and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal. The new drive is intended to provide an opportunity for eligible people to seek inclusion in the electoral rolls through the regular continuous updation mechanism. The move follows the completion of different phases of the nationwide electoral-roll revision programme. The ECI has been conducting SIR in phases with the stated objective of keeping electoral rolls updated while ensuring that eligible citizens are not left out. How will voters left out of the rolls be enrolled?Eligible citizens who find that their names are missing from the electoral roll can apply to the concerned Electoral Registration Officer for inclusion. Form 6 is the application used for inclusion of eligible citizens in the electoral roll.The ECI has directed state election authorities to make the process easier for people who were left out during SIR or became eligible afterwards. Officials have been asked to conduct special outreach and enrolment activities instead of relying only on individual applicants to approach election offices. In states where the drive has already begun, election authorities are also planning awareness activities and camps. In Rajasthan, for example, officials said public-awareness programmes and special camps would be organised through electoral literacy clubs in schools and colleges to assist eligible citizens with enrolment. Who can benefit from the special voter enrolment drive?The drive is not limited to people whose names may have been left out during SIR. The ECI has also directed authorities to facilitate enrolment of young and first-time voters who are eligible to be registered.Under the electoral-roll framework, an eligible Indian citizen who has attained the required age and is not otherwise disqualified under law can seek registration as an elector. The ECI has previously stated that the purpose of SIR is to ensure that no eligible citizen is left out while preventing ineligible entries from remaining on the electoral roll.The special campaign therefore covers two broad groups: existing eligible voters who may have been left out during revision and citizens who have newly become eligible for registration.What role will election officials play?State and Union Territory election authorities have been instructed to identify voters who may have been left out and support them in completing the enrolment process. Booth-level and other field-level election officials are expected to assist voters during the campaign.The ECI has already used house-to-house verification and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during SIR. In Phase III alone, more than 3.94 lakh BLOs were deployed to cover about 36.73 crore electors, according to government data released when that phase was announced.The Commission has also highlighted the importance of claims and objections during electoral-roll revision. Citizens are given opportunities to raise concerns about omissions or other entries before final rolls are published.What is the latest update on the nationwide SIR?The SIR exercise has been conducted in phases across different states and Union Territories. According to the ECI, the revision programme was designed to update electoral rolls through enumeration, draft publication, claims and objections, verification and final publication.Government information released in May 2026 said Phase III covered 16 states and three Union Territories, with the exercise involving more than 36 crore electors. The schedule for different states has varied depending on local administrative and election-related requirements. The Commission's latest direction now places additional focus on voters who may have missed the revision process. The ECI has asked CEOs, DEOs and EROs to launch the special enrolment drive immediately in areas where SIR has already been completed. The Election Commission has also reported state-level action. In Goa, for instance, the CEO's office said Booth Level Officers were directed to conduct house-to-house visits for voters left out during SIR, with eligible voters submitting Form 6 for inclusion. The special drive is part of the continuing process of maintaining electoral rolls. Eligible citizens who believe their names are missing are being encouraged to use the prescribed enrolment process and approach the appropriate election authorities for assistance.Also Read : Understanding the Election Commission Scrutiny
