Preparations, including training of BLOs, are already underway and Kerala, it's learnt, will follow the same model used in Bihar.
Published Sep 12, 2025 | 7:24 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 12, 2025 | 7:24 PM
Elections
Synopsis: The move is said to produce a fresh voters’ list by removing duplicate and otherwise ineligible entries. “Voters need not panic about SIR. Those who hold valid documents will not be removed from the list — only ineligible names will be deleted,” Dr Kelkar told reporters.
Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Dr Rathan U on Friday, 12 September, announced that, they will soon launch the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of its electoral roll, ahead of 2026 Assembly polls.
He further added that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will carry out door-to-door verification as part of the preliminary exercise.
The move, he said, aims to produce a fresh voters’ list by removing duplicate and otherwise ineligible entries.
“Voters need not panic about SIR. Those who hold valid documents will not be removed from the list — only ineligible names will be deleted,” Dr Kelkar told reporters.
He said voters may upload forms online themselves or get assistance from BLOs during the verification drive. The state plans to use the 2002 electoral roll as the baseline for the revision.
A meeting of political parties has been convened for 20 September to discuss SIR’s introduction in Kerala, the CEO added, though the Election Commission of India has not yet issued a formal schedule.
Preparations, including training of BLOs, are already underway and Kerala, it’s learnt, will follow the same model used in Bihar.
The EC is reported to be considering a pan-India SIR by the end of 2025 — an exercise officials say is intended to weed out foreign illegal migrants by checking place of birth — ahead of assembly polls in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal in 2026.
The SIR in Bihar provoked controversy, with opposition parties warning that many eligible citizens could be left without voting rights for lack of documents, meanwhile, the Supreme Court has directed the EC to ensure no eligible voter is excluded.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
