The Election Commission of India has extended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) deadlines across several states and a Union Territory, marking a significant update in the ongoing effort to improve the accuracy of electoral rolls nationwide. This extension ensures that every state covered under the revised schedule receives adequate time to complete verification, correction, and drafting processes essential for a transparent and inclusive electoral framework.
The updated timelines come at a crucial moment, as states continue to reconcile voter lists, verify duplicate or outdated entries, and align their electoral records with the eligibility date of January 1, 2026. By offering additional time, the ECI aims to reduce errors, include eligible voters who might otherwise be left out, and support district-level officers handling the extensive fieldwork required for revising electoral rolls.
This extension is particularly impactful for states with large populations or regions facing logistical challenges. It allows authorities to conduct more thorough reviews, improve verification accuracy, and engage with communities to ensure broad participation in upcoming electoral processes.
ECI Extends SIR Deadlines Across Multiple Regions
The revised schedule applies to five states and one Union Territory, granting each additional days or weeks to complete their Special Intensive Revision submissions. According to the Election Commission, this extension aims to address both administrative bottlenecks and field-level challenges that have slowed down voter verification efforts.
States such as Tamil Nadu and Gujarat will now have more time to finalize their documentation, ensuring that draft rolls reflect correct voter details. Meanwhile, regions like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands have also been given an extended window for submitting their revised reports, acknowledging the need for deeper verification and correction work.
These changes emphasize the ECI’s commitment to sustaining the integrity of the electoral roll revision process by ensuring that no eligible voter is excluded due to rushed timelines or incomplete verification efforts.
Revised SIR Deadlines State by State
Under the updated schedule, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat will now file their SIR submissions by December 19, 2025. This change replaces the earlier deadline of December 14, 2025, providing administrative teams with additional breathing room to cross-check data and verify voter entries accurately.
For Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the new submission date has been extended to December 23, 2025. These regions had previously been expected to submit their revisions by December 18, 2025, meaning that the extension offers critical days to resolve pending discrepancies and finalize updates in a structured manner.
Uttar Pradesh, with one of the largest voter populations in the country, has been granted the most extensive extension. Its new submission deadline is December 31, 2025, replacing the earlier date of December 26, 2025. The state authorities had sought additional time due to the immense scale of voter verification and the need to recheck a large number of records, including those of deceased or shifted voters.
Why Uttar Pradesh Sought Extra Time
Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa stated that the state formally requested the Election Commission to extend the SIR deadline. The extension was needed to ensure that the process was conducted efficiently and that updated electoral rolls reflected accurate and verified voter information.
District election officers across the state identified challenges in cross-verifying voter details, resolving discrepancies, and updating records related to absent and relocated voters. To address these concerns, the state requested additional time, citing the need for more organized and error-free revision efforts.
The Election Commission responded by extending the schedule for Uttar Pradesh by a full 15 days. The revised timelines are now aligned with the eligibility date of January 1, 2026, providing a clear roadmap for the next steps in the electoral roll update process.
Updated Timeline for Uttar Pradesh’s SIR Process
With the extension approved, specific deadlines have been updated for Uttar Pradesh to ensure a smooth revision cycle. The counting period, initially expected to conclude earlier, will now continue until December 26, 2025. This allows authorities to complete their verification and enumeration checks with greater accuracy.
The draft publication of electoral rolls is now scheduled for December 31, 2025. This publication marks an important milestone in the SIR process, offering voters the opportunity to check their details and file corrections if needed.
Following the draft publication, the window for filing claims and objections will run from December 31, 2025 to January 30, 2026. During this period, voters can request corrections, object to inaccuracies, or seek inclusion if their names are missing from the draft roll.
Verification and Disposal of Claims
Once claims and objections are received, authorities will begin the verification process, which includes reviewing submitted notices, checking enumeration forms, and validating voter identity details. This phase runs from December 31, 2025 to February 21, 2026.
The thorough review ensures that each claim is processed fairly, each objection is verified, and any discrepancies are resolved before the final publication. It also allows officials to eliminate duplicate entries, correct inaccuracies, and ensure the completeness of the voter list.
After the verification cycle, the final electoral roll for Uttar Pradesh will be published on February 28, 2026. This roll will include all updates made during the revision period, providing an accurate list of eligible voters ahead of upcoming elections.
Previous Extension Given in November
Notably, this is not the first time the Election Commission has extended SIR deadlines. Earlier, on November 30, the ECI granted a one-week extension to twelve states and Union Territories. That extension aimed to give voters additional time to ensure that their names appeared correctly in electoral rolls, especially in regions where delays or verification challenges were prominent.
By providing multiple extensions across different phases of the SIR cycle, the Commission has demonstrated flexibility and attentiveness to the on-ground realities faced by administrators and citizens alike. Whether due to high voter volumes, logistical challenges, or data reconciliation issues, these revised timelines help ensure that no eligible voter is overlooked.
The extended deadlines are expected to improve the accuracy and reliability of the electoral rolls, strengthening confidence in the electoral process and ensuring greater participation in future elections.
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About the Author:
Harshit Raj
