New Delhi. The Election Commission of India has approved crucial changes and extensions to the timelines for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Delhi and Maharashtra. These decisions, finalized during a high-level meeting on Saturday, are expected to provide significant relief to citizens by giving them more time to navigate the revision process. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, collectively cleared multiple updates regarding the ongoing electoral roll purification drive.
Revised Deadlines for Delhi
According to the official schedule released by the poll panel, the deadline for submitting claims and objections during the Delhi SIR has been extended up to October 30, 2026. Furthermore, the final date for the settlement and disposal of notices, claims, and objections in the national capital has been pushed to November 30, 2026. This extension aims to ensure that no eligible citizen is left out due to procedural delays or paperwork challenges.
Timelines Updated for Maharashtra
In the case of Maharashtra, the Election Commission has revised the final date for filing claims and objections to October 12, 2026. Concurrently, the deadline for completing the disposal of notices, claims, and objections in Maharashtra has been extended to November 10, 2026. These adjusted dates will help administrative machinery manage the massive volume of verification work efficiently.
New Protocols for BLOs and EROs
Following the crucial meeting of the three commissioners, the poll body released a detailed press statement outlining simplified verification steps. The panel clarified that if any voter receives a notice due to being unmapped or flagged for logical discrepancies during the ongoing SIR, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will personally visit their residences. The BLOs will collect the required documents directly from the voter's home and upload them onto ECINet for the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) to make a final decision.
Exemption from Personal Appearance
The commission emphasized that citizens who receive notices under the SIR process are generally not required to visit offices for personal hearings. Online hearing facilities are being substantially strengthened, and hearings will preferably be conducted online under specific circumstances determined by the ERO. If necessary, voters can authorize any senior member of their household to represent them during the proceedings.
Legal Standing and Consensus
The Election Commission also noted that the declaration attached with Form 6 for the SIR has been validated by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. For non-SIR periods, standard forms under the Electors Registration Rules 1960 will remain applicable. The commission reiterated that all these key decisions regarding the revision drive were taken with the unanimous consensus of all three commissioners.
