EC announces SIR Phase-III in 19 states, UTs; excludes Himachal, J&K and Ladakh: Full schedule here

The Election Commission announced Phase III of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) across 19 states and Union Territories. Phase 1 was conducted in Bihar, between June and September 2025, ahead of the 2025 state Assembly Election, while Phase II was conducted in nine states and three UTs between October 2025 and February 2026.

Special Intensive Revision – Phase III

In a press note on Thursday, the Election Commission said it has directed the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in 16 States and 3 Union Territories (UTs).

The poll body informed that the SIR of Electoral Rolls will cover the entire country in Phase-III. This, however, won't include Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

"After considering the completion of Phase-II of the Census in these three State/UTs and due consideration of the weather in the upper reaches/ snow-bound areas, SIR schedule for these three State/UTs will be announced later," the Election Commission's note read.

Which states/UT will hold SIR in Phase-III?

1. Odisha

2. Mizoram

3. Sikkim

4. Manipur

5. Dadar and Nagar Haveli; Daman and Diu

6. Uttarakhand

7. Andhra Pradesh

8. Arunachal Pradesh

9. Haryana

10. Chandigarh

11. Telangana

12. Punjab

13. Karnataka

14. Meghalaya

15. Maharashtra

16. Jharkhand

17. Delhi

18. Nagaland

19. Tripura

SIR in Phase-III Full Schedule

As per the Election Commission's schedule, the SIR exercise will begin in May 2026 and conclude by December 2026.

Total number of voters in these 19 states, UTs

The Election Commission also revealed the total number of voters in these 19 states and UTs. They were as follows:

Why do we need SIR

The Election Commission has cited the law to say that electoral rolls must be revised before every election or as required. The poll body says that the SIR has already been done 8 times from 1951 to 2004. The Last SIR was done more than 21 years ago, from 2002 to 2004.

The Election Commission also noted that many changes in electoral rolls have occurred due to:

• Frequent migration

• Resulting in voters getting registered at more than one place

• Non-Removal of Dead Voters

• Wrongful inclusion of any Foreigner

What are the key steps of SIR

Step 1: Pre-Enumeration Phase

• Training of BLOs, EROs and DEOs

• Manual Matching/ Linking with Last SIR by BLOs

• Computer Matching/ Linking with Last SIR by ECINET

Step 2: Involvement of Political Parties

• CEOs, DEOs and EROs to meet all Recognised Parties and explain the SIR process in full detail

• Training of Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by all Recognised Political Parties

• BLAs can also collect duly filled in EFs from Electors, certify up to 50 EFs/Day and submit to BLO

Step 3: Enumeration Phase

• Printing, Distribution, Matching/ Linking and Collection of duly filled in Enumeration Forms

• Rationalisation of Polling Stations with an upper limit of 1,200 voters

Step 4: Publication of Draft Electoral Rolls

• Draft Rolls will contain all Electors whose Enumeration Form has been received

• List of Absent/Shifted/Death/Duplicate names not included in Draft Roll to be put onCEO website/public offices

Step 5: Issuance of Notices and taking a Decision thereon by EROs/AEROs

• Notices will be issued for Electors who could not be matched/linked with last SIR

• Verifying indicative documents to ascertain their eligibility as an Elector

• Hearing to ascertain their whereabouts prior to last SIR

Step 6: Receiving and Deciding on Claims & Objections by EROs/ AEROs

Any elector or BLA of Recognised Political Parties can file a Claim or Objection

Step 7: Publication of Final Electoral Rolls

Receiving and Deciding 1st Appeal by DMs and 2 nd Appeal by CEO