Special Intensive Revision (SIR)

Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an electoral roll management tool used by the Election Commission of India (ECI) under the powers vested by the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. In an SIR, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) — designated government officials assigned to each polling booth — conduct door-to-door verification of every registered voter at their listed address. Voters who cannot be verified as currently residing at the address are proposed for deletion from the roll. The proposed deletions are then displayed publicly; registered voters (or political parties on their behalf) can file objections. After adjudication, final deletions are made. Types of electoral roll revision by ECI: 1. Annual Summary Revision (ASR): Routine annual update (October–January qualifying date). Less intensive. 2. Special Summary Revision (SSR): Summary revision for specific purposes (e.g., before elections). Addition/deletion-focused. 3. Special Intensive Revision (SIR): Full door-to-door physical verification of all registered voters — most thorough and most intrusive. 4. Continuous Updating: Year-round additions/corrections through Form 6/7/8 filings. Legal basis: Article 324 of the Constitution gives ECI plenary powers over elections, which includes electoral roll maintenance. Section 22 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 enables the registration authority to delete names of voters who have died or ceased to reside at the address. West Bengal SIR controversy (2026): The ECI's SIR reduced West Bengal's electorate from 7.66 crore to 6.77 crore — removing ~91 lakh voters (11.9%). Opposition parties alleged disproportionate deletions in Muslim-majority districts (Murshidabad, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur). The Supreme Court intervened — deploying judicial officers from West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand to adjudicate disputed deletions through 19 appellate tribunals.

• 1 Authority: Representation of the People Act, 1950 + Registration of Electors Rules, 1960
• 2 Method: Booth Level Officers (BLOs) conduct door-to-door verification of all registered voters
• 3 Proposed deletions → public display → objections period → adjudication → final deletion
• 4 WB SIR 2026: 91 lakh removed (7.66 cr → 6.77 cr); controversy over Muslim-majority district deletions
• 5 SC intervention (WB 2026): 19 appellate tribunals; judicial officers from 3 states
• 6 Constitutional basis: Article 324 (ECI plenary powers); Article 326 (universal adult franchise)
• 7 Critique: SIR methodology cannot distinguish dead voters from migrant workers temporarily absent
• 8 BLO: Booth Level Officer — designated government official for each polling booth
• 9 National SIR 2026: 6.08 crore removed across 9 states + 3 UTs

A seasonal brick kiln worker from Murshidabad, West Bengal, migrates to Bihar for 8 months every year. During the SIR exercise, the BLO visits his home address and finds him absent. The BLO marks him as 'not found' — and he is proposed for deletion from the electoral roll. Despite being alive, registered, and a genuine voter, he risks losing his franchise unless his family files a timely objection on his behalf.