SIR of electoral rolls: Here’s how you can join voter list update

SIR process is designed to be accessible both offline and online, ensuring that urban and rural voters alike can update their records.

Published May 16, 2026 | 12:09 PM ⚊ Updated May 16, 2026 | 12:28 PM

Representational image. Credit: iStock

Synopsis: The Election Commission of India has launched the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls in Karnataka, 2025 to update voter lists before elections. BLOs will conduct house-to-house verification, while citizens can also apply online or at designated centres. The process covers new enrollments, corrections, and deletions, requiring proof of age, residence, and supporting documents.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has formally launched the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls in Karnataka, a critical exercise to ensure that every eligible citizen is correctly listed before the upcoming elections.

The process, guided by Order No.23/2025-ERS (Vol.II) dated 24 June, 2025, will run across all constituencies in the state.

SIR aims to:

Enroll new voters who have turned 18 by the qualifying date.
Correct errors in names, addresses, or other personal details.
Remove duplicate or ineligible entries, including those of deceased or shifted voters.
Update rolls to reflect the latest demographic and logistical realities.

Officials Added that the revision is not merely clerical but a constitutional obligation under the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

Also Read: ECI announces SIR Phase III across 16 States, 3 UTs including Karnataka, AP and Telangana

Documents required:

Applicants will need to furnish:

Proof of age: Birth certificate, school records, Aadhaar, or passport.
Proof of residence: Utility bills, rental agreements, ration cards, or Aadhaar.
Voters who were there in 2002 electoral rolls need to submit the extract of the electoral roll where their name is mentioned.

Correction requests:

Supporting documents such as gazette notifications for name changes.
Deletion requests: Death certificates or family declarations in case of deceased voters.

Procedure:

House-to-house verification: Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit homes to verify details and collect forms.

Designated centres: Schools, government offices, and polling stations will serve as revision centres for those who miss BLO visits.

Online submission: Citizens can also apply via the National Voters’ Service Portal (NVSP), the Voter Helpline App, or the Karnataka CEO’s website.

If voters are not at home:

The Commission clarified that absence during BLO visits will not disenfranchise voters. In such cases, citizens can:

Submit forms online.
Visit designated centres personally.
Authorise family members to submit documents, with later verification if required.
If house is locked/closed, BLOs will slip enumeration form in the house.
They shall make at least 3 visits to collect the filled-in forms.

Accessibility

The SIR process is designed to be accessible both offline and online, ensuring that urban and rural voters alike can update their records. Officials stress the importance of keeping original documents ready for verification and tracking application status digitally.

Notably, Karnataka has conducted similar revisions in past decades — 1952, 1961, 1983, 2003, and 2010.

Also Read: Data shows SIR helped BJP win West Bengal