ECI Press Conference LIVE Updates: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced phase 2 rollout plan for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter roll. The aim is to sanitise the list, the way it did for the poll-bound Bihar earlier this year. The ECI has held multiple meetings with state chief election officers last month and today it will be announcing its schedule.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar addressed the press conference, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
In one of the conferences, the top poll panel asked the officials to prepare the voter roll data of the last revision, and upload the same on their websites.
SIR nation-wide rollout: What to Expect
According to a Times of India report the poll body said the initial phase will leave out states like Maharashtra, where local body elections by January 2026. It has now skipped snow-bound states/UTs of J&K, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Ladakh.
Through its multiple press addresses, the commission has made it clear that it will take up the nationwide SIR soon to correct the voter roll in the entire country. It was previously reported that poll states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal – which will go to polls the next year, would be the first one to witness SIR in round 2 of the ECI.
Bihar SIR: The beginning of it all
The ECI in June this year had announced conducting SIR in Bihar, and it set the deadline of Sept 30 to publish the final roll. The massive exercise began the next day, with people filling the forms. However, what was new this time was the proof of citizenship. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said that the SIR is aimed to identify illegal immigrant voters, and those who have two voter ids, migrated to other states or have died.
However, the exercise has been heavily criticised by the opposition which has called it an attempt at “vote theft”. The matter reached the Supreme Court which, in multiple hearings, gave orders like considering Aadhar as proof of identity for the voters whose names have been struck, and asked ECI to publish names of 65 lakh voters whose names were deleted among others.
The SC refused to strike down the entire exercise, though it questioned the timing, but said the ECI has the authority and power to conduct the SIR.
What came out of Bihar SIR
In the final roll, the ECI released the names of 7.42 crore voters in Bihar, which was 42 lakh less than the previous number. The ECI said after proper representation, many names were added and the final removal stood at 42 lakhs.
ECI Press Conference LIVE: Check Live Coverage on EC Pan-India SIR Announcement, ECI voters list revision, EC SIR Schedule announcement Pan-India SIR phase 1, Phase 2
ECI Press Conference LIVE Updates: ECI says urban voters can fill enumeration forms online as well
The ECI said that urban voters and those working elsewhere from the domicile state can fill the enumeration forms online as well.
ECI Press Conference LIVE Updates: CEC on why no SIR in Assam as of now
CEC Gyanesh Kumar explains why Assam, which goes for polls next year, is not under Phase 2 of the SIR.
He said that the matter of citizenship is different in Assam, and the same will be concluded soon. The ECI added that the schedule for SIR in Assam will be announced separately.
ECI Press Conference LIVE Updates: Election officials have been asked to explain SIR process from tomorrow
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said that a ll Chief Electoral Officers, District Election Officers and EROs have been instructed to hold meetings with all political parties starting tomorrow until the SIR process is complete.
"During these meetings, the entire SIR process will be explained to them in detail. Regarding Booth Level Agents (BLAs), as was done in Bihar, each BLA can collect up to 50 signed Enumeration Forms per day from electors..." he added.
ECI Press Conference LIVE Updates: Phase 2 SIR full schedule
Full schedule of the Phase -2 of SIR in 12 states and UTs
Printing/Training - 28th Oct to 3rd Nov 2025
House to House Enumeration Phase - 4th Nov to 4th Dec 2025
Publication of Draft Electoral Rolls - 9th Dec 2025
Claims & Objection Period - 9th Dec 2025 to 8th Jan 2026
Notice Phase (Hearing & Verification) - 9th Dec 2025 to 31st Jan 2026
Publication of Final Electoral Rolls - 7th Feb 2026
ECI Press Conference LIVE Updates: ECI announces schedule of SIR Phase 2
ECI announces schedule of Phase 2 of SIR
Training begins tomorrow.
Filling of enumeration begins on Nov 4 whereas the final draft will be published on Feb 7, 2026.
ECI Press Conference LIVE Updates: List of states for Phase -2 of SIR
CEC says phase 2 SIR in following states and UTs
Andaman and Nicobar Island
Chhattisgarh
Goa
Gujarat
Kerala
Lakshadweep
Madhya Pradesh
Puducherry
Rajasthan
Tamil Nadu
Uttar Pradesh
West Bengal
ECI Press Conference LIVE Updates: Enumeration form will mostly be pre-filled, says CEC
ECI stated that the enumeration forms will mostly be pre-filled, including name, booth, constituency and old photo.
"We urge voters to paste new coloured recent photo in the enumeration form," CEC said. Aadhaar number will be taken for SIR.
ECI Press Conference LIVE Updates: BLOs will visit every household at least thrice - says CEC
Addressing the press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said, “BLOs will visit every household three times. To address the issue of migrated voters, people can now submit their enumeration forms online.”
He mentioned that training of polling officials for Phase-II of SIR will begin on Tuesday (tomorrow - Octo 28).
ECI Press Conference LIVE Updates: Voters already on 2003 roll need not submit any other form - says CEC
CEC Gyanesh Kumar said those who would be matched to 2003 voter list, or their parents, will not be required to submit any other documents to be included in the post-SIR voter roll.
ECI Press Conference LIVE Updates: EROs to freeze voter list of 12 states, UTs of SIR phase 2 as of today midnight
CEC Gyanesh Kumar said the states and UTs which will undergo the SIR, will have their voter list frozen as of today (Oct 27) midnight.
The EROs will print unique enumerate forms of every registered voter in these states and UTs.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar said the last SIR was conducted 21 years ago in between 2001-2004. He said frequent migration, double voter id cards, non-removal of dead voters, and wrongful inclusion of foreigners have taken place in all these years.
"Hence ECI decided to conduct step-wise SIR across the country," the CEC said.
He said since 1951, SIR has been conducted in the country eight times.
The ECI announced that in phase -2, the SIR exercise would be conducted in 12 staters, UTs.
#watch | Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar says, "...The second phase of SIR (Special Intensive Revision) is about to be carried out in 12 States/UTs." pic.twitter.com/bKE65UFDay
— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2025
ECI Press Conference LIVE Updates: CEC greets nation on Chhath festival, to announce Phase 2 of SIR
CEC Gyanesh Kumar extends wishes on Chhath festival and thanks Bihar voters for successful SIR exercise.
ECI Press Conference LIVE Updates: Election commission's presser on nationwide SIR begins
Election commission begins press briefing on nationwide SIR schedule. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is addressing the media.
ECI Press Conference LIVE Updates: 'It will bring transparency', Union Minister ahead of nationwide SIR schedule
Ahead of the Election Commission of India's press conference on Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said that the conduct of SIR is important to maintain political sanctity.
"We have been demanding countrywide SIR because it will bring transparency. For sanctity in politics, SIR is very important," Manjhi told ANI.
ECI Press Conference LIVE Updates: Election commission to begin presser on nationwide SIR shortly
The Election Commission of India will shortly begin its press briefing on the nationwide SIR.
Stay tuned to this page for all the live updates.
ECI Press Conference LIVE Updates: EC must not rush, it shows it is acting under pressure from political party - says J&K CM
J&K CM Omar Abdullah speaks on the ECI's nationwide SIR plan. He said that there have been some concerns and complaints about the SIR in Bihar.
"It is not yet clear whether those conducting the SIR will benefit from it. Let the Bihar elections be completed first. Only after that can we assess whether the SIR has truly been beneficial. Only then can we consider implementing it in the rest of the country. Since the results in Bihar have not yet been released, the Election Commission should not rush into this. Doing so might suggest that the Election Commission is sacrificing its independence and acting under pressure from a political party..." he said.
On SIR implementation, JDU leader KC Tyagi says, “I am confident that all parties will support the actions taken by the Election Commission. This is part of the electoral process...”
Election Commission SIR briefing LIVE Updates: Only those who have wrongly added their names are afraid of SIR- BJP's Rajasthan chief
On SIR implementation, BJP Rajasthan President Madan Rathore says, "For an 18-year-old who has become a youth, their name will be recorded. For those who have passed away, their name will be removed. This is the process. SIR will be conducted and will function properly. Those who have wrongly added names will be afraid."
Election Commission SIR briefing LIVE Updates: On nationwide SIR, SP says ECI failed to act on complaints of 'vote theft' in Bihar
Ahead of the Election Commission’s press conference later today on the pan-India SIR voters’ list, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Sunil Singh Yadav mentioned that affidavits were submitted to the poll panel regarding ‘vote chori’, but no action has been taken.
"The EC must prove that it is not acting as an agent of the BJP and must also address the concerns of the opposition. It is the EC’s duty to ensure that every eligible person’s name is included in the voter list. If someone is unable to provide certain documents, it is the responsibility of the government authorities to accept Aadhaar or other valid identification to ensure everyone can cast their vote," he said.
Election Commission SIR briefing LIVE Updates: Stalin asks EC to drop SIR process in Tamil Nadu
Ahead of dates announcement, Stalin has urged the Election Commission of India to drop the SIR process in the state. He stated in his letter that if corrections are needed, they should be done by following proper procedures and allowing adequate time.
“Any undemocratic action beyond this will be fought legally and on the ground, for the DMK has the strength to do both,” Stalin added.
Election Commission SIR briefing LIVE Updates: Stalin calls SIR 'conspiracy web'
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin has called the Election Commission’s ‘Special Intensive Revision’ (SIR) of electoral rolls a “conspiracy web” and has urged his party cadres to remain vigilant against any attempt to “snatch away people’s voting rights.”
Stalin alleged that the BJP and its ally AIADMK were trying to manipulate the electoral process ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections by using the SIR exercise.
“The DMK and our INDIA alliance partners have repeatedly cautioned that the Union BJP government is attempting to misuse the Election Commission, its puppet, to repeat the same in Tamil Nadu. Their calculation is that if the names of working-class people, Scheduled Castes, minorities, and women are deleted, BJP and its ally AIADMK might somehow win. But such calculations will never succeed in Tamil Nadu,” Stalin said in his letter.
Election Commission SIR briefing LIVE Updates: SIR in Tamil Nadu in a week
Election Commission has earlier informed the Madras High Court that it would commence the SIR process in Tamil Nadu in a week.
The ECI also gave an assurance to the court that it would follow all directions given by the Supreme Court in a case related to SIR in Bihar, while conducting the exercise in Tamil Nadu. The State will go for polls in April-May 2026.
Election Commission SIR briefing LIVE Updates: What to expect
The SIR of electoral rolls is likely to be done in phases, with the first one targeting election-bound States and a few more.
Reports suggest the Election Commission will conduct the first phase of SIR in five poll-bound States and Union Territories - Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Arunachal Pradesh, and West Bengal — and a few more States and Union Territories where preparatory work is over. Around 10-15 States are expected to be covered in this phase.
The commission may skip poll bound BMC and other hill states during the winters.