Voter intensive revision The term Voter Intensive Revision, often referred to as Special Intensive Revision (SIR), is a comprehensive, large-scale exercise undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to thoroughly verify and update the country's electoral rolls (voter lists). It's a process far more extensive than the routine annual updates and is typically triggered before major, high-stakes elections or when the voter rolls haven't been meticulously updated for a long period. 🎯 Core Objectives of Intensive Revision The main goal of an Intensive Revision is to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the electoral roll, thereby upholding the principle of "one person, one vote." Inclusion: To ensure all eligible citizens who are 18 years or older on the qualifying date are included in the voter list. Deletion/Correction: To eliminate all inaccuracies, such as: Names of deceased voters. Duplicate entries (a person registered in more than one place). Names of voters who have permanently shifted residence. Names of any ineligible persons. Transparency: To involve political parties and the general public to make the entire process transparent and build public trust in the electoral system. 🛠️ Key Process Steps The Intensive Revision involves a rigorous, multi-step approach, which often includes a house-to-house verification drive: Notification & Planning: The ECI formally notifies the schedule, the "qualifying date" (the date by which a citizen must be 18 to be eligible), and the procedure. House-to-House (H2H) Enumeration: Booth Level Officers (BLOs) visit every house in their assigned polling area to distribute, and later collect, an Enumeration Form (EF). Existing voters must fill out this form to re-verify their details. Inclusion of New Voters: Citizens who are newly eligible (e.g., those who turned 18) are encouraged to apply for inclusion using Form 6. Verification and Scrutiny: The submitted forms and existing records are meticulously scrutinised by the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) for eligibility, duplication, and corrections. Draft Roll Publication: A draft of the updated electoral roll is published for public inspection. Claims and Objections: The public and political parties can submit claims (for inclusion) or objections (for deletion or correction) to the draft roll. Final Decision: The EROs decide on all claims and objections after a hearing process. Final Roll Publication: The Final Electoral Roll is published and is used for the subsequent election. The intensive, door-to-door verification makes this process much more comprehensive than a summary revision, aiming to align the voter list as closely as possible with the actual demographic situation on the ground. Would you like to know the current status or dates for the Special Intensive Revision in your state? West Bengal That's a very timely question. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls is currently underway in West Bengal as part of the second phase of a pan-India exercise ordered by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The SIR in West Bengal is a significant exercise because the last intensive revision was conducted over two decades ago, in 2002. 📅 SIR Schedule for West Bengal (Phase II) The Election Commission has set a clear timeline for the completion of the SIR process in West Bengal: ActivityStart DateEnd DateHouse-to-House Enumeration PhaseNovember 4, 2025December 4, 2025Publication of Draft Electoral RollsDecember 9, 2025(1 day)Period for Filing Claims & ObjectionsDecember 9, 2025January 8, 2026Hearing & Disposal of Claims/ObjectionsDecember 9, 2025January 31, 2026Final Publication of Electoral RollsFebruary 7, 2026(1 day) (Note: The House-to-House Enumeration Phase is currently ongoing until December 4, 2025.) 🔑 What Voters in West Bengal Need to Do The core of the SIR is the collection of the Enumeration Form (EF). Existing Voters: If you are already a registered voter, the Booth Level Officer (BLO) in your area should have visited your house (or will visit) to distribute a partially pre-filled unique Enumeration Form (EF). You must fill out this form, verify your details, and submit it back to the BLO to ensure your name remains in the final roll. You can also fill and submit the Enumeration Form online through the ECI portal: voters.eci.gov.in. New Voters: If you are a citizen who will turn 18 on or before January 1, 2026, you should apply for inclusion using Form 6. This can be done through the BLO or online. Check Status: You can check if your Enumeration Form has been uploaded on the ECI portal by logging in and clicking the 'Fill Enumeration Form' option with your EPIC number. For any assistance, you can contact your local BLO or call the toll-free helpline 1950 (dial along with