ECI Directs States and UTs for April SIR Phase
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has formally notified 17 state governments and five union territories to commence preparations for the forthcoming second phase of the State Integrated Registry (SIR) system. This phase, projected to begin in April 2026, targets major electoral battlegrounds and aims to update voter lists ahead of anticipated general elections later this year.
SIR, an advanced electoral roll management platform, consolidates voter data from various state-level sources into a centralized database. The ECI’s directive mandates extensive house-to-house verification to eliminate discrepancies, remove deceased voters, and incorporate newly eligible citizens into the rolls.
Prioritized states include Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Maharashtra, each critical for national outcomes due to their vast electorates. Union territories such as Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Puducherry are also included for their strategic electoral significance.
The commission stressed the April deadline, warning that delays could compromise the completeness of voter list revisions. Officials stated the phase should cover approximately 65% of the total electorate, a crucial step toward ensuring electoral integrity.
State authorities must form dedicated task forces and coordinate with local administration for efficient implementation. The ECI will provide technical support and conduct training to address data migration and system integration challenges.
Political commentators view the accelerated timeline as proactive against voter fraud allegations. Recent controversies over voter list inaccuracies have heightened the ECI’s focus on transparency and accuracy in the electoral process.
Some state officials expressed concerns over resource allocation, noting logistical strains from simultaneous state elections and SIR preparations. The ECI acknowledged these issues and offered flexible timelines for states facing logistical hurdles.
Independent observers and civil society groups will monitor the process, ensuring revisions adhere to democratic principles and inclusivity. Success will be measured by completion rate and accuracy of voter list updates.
As the deadline nears, the ECI has intensified communication with states, conducting virtual workshops and issuing regular progress reports. The commission remains ready to deploy additional resources for technical or administrative bottlenecks.
Public awareness campaigns are mandated to educate voters about the verification process. Citizens can report discrepancies via helplines and online portals, fostering collaboration in electoral roll maintenance.
The commission plans to evaluate SIR Phase 2’s efficacy before national rollout. Experience from these jurisdictions will inform subsequent phases, with a goal of achieving a fully digitized, error-free electoral roll system by 2027.
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