Delhi has commenced a comprehensive Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of its electoral rolls, deploying over 13,000 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to conduct a month-long, door-to-door verification of approximately 1.45 crore voters. This significant exercise, which also began in Karnataka, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand on June 30, 2026, is designed to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the voter list.
Verifying Electoral Rolls in Delhi
The primary objective of the SIR is to verify existing voter details, facilitate the enrollment of newly eligible residents, and identify electors who may have passed away, permanently relocated, or are registered at multiple locations. Delhi currently accounts for 1,45,10,298 registered voters, including 67,98,142 women and 1,024 individuals identifying as third gender.
Chief Electoral Officer Alok Kumar outlined the detailed schedule for the capital. The verification phase will run from June 30 until July 29. Following this, a draft electoral roll is slated for release on August 5. A subsequent window for filing claims and objections will extend until September 4, with the resolution process continuing through October 3. The final, updated voter list for Delhi is expected to be published on October 10, 2026.
The Verification Process
BLOs will visit each household twice during the revision period. The initial visit involves handing over duplicate enumeration forms to registered voters and assisting them with completion. A follow-up visit is planned to collect the filled forms. Officials aim for at least three attempts per household to ensure contact. If a voter is unavailable, the form may be given to another adult resident or left behind if the home is locked. Each voter will receive an acknowledgement copy of their submission.
For residents who have moved to Delhi since the last revision in 2002, Mr. Kumar advised checking the Election Commission's online portal. This resource can help retrieve historical voter details, including constituency information and serial numbers from previous rolls, which can aid in establishing their records during the current process.
National Context and Prior Controversies
The SIR in Delhi is part of a broader, year-long national initiative. This nationwide drive has already resulted in the removal of nearly six crore (60 million) names from voter lists across 19 states and union territories. The exercise, which commenced in Bihar in June 2025 ahead of its assembly elections, faced considerable pushback from opposition parties. They alleged that the process was being used to selectively disenfranchise voters who lacked specific documentation. In Bihar alone, approximately 65 lakh (6.5 million) names were removed from the electoral roll.
The Supreme Court addressed the controversy in March 2026, unanimously affirming the Election Commission's constitutional authority to conduct such revision exercises.
Documentation and Procedures
Prior to the Delhi rollout, election officials, sub-divisional magistrates, and party representatives received comprehensive training on the technical and procedural aspects of the 2026 exercise, supported by Election Commission specialists. Generally, voters are not required to submit supporting documents during the initial enumeration stage; the form itself is typically sufficient unless officials specifically request further verification.
In cases where additional proof is requested, acceptable documents include passports, birth certificates, educational certificates, caste certificates, government-issued identity cards predating July 1987, and land or housing allotment certificates, among others. Officials have also confirmed that the entire process, including form submission and verification, is free of cost. Eligibility will ultimately be determined based on valid documentation, age, and residence criteria as per Election Commission guidelines.