The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls has become one of the most discussed electoral exercises in India, especially with the West Bengal 2026 assembly election approaching.
Moreover, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is conducting this practice with the aim of cleaning, updating and strengthening the voter database to ensure that only eligible citizens can vote. Hence, it is essential to understand the SIR India process, the 2025 voter list, the 2026 ASD list, and ECI Net enrolment deadlines for Indian expats living in the UAE.
What Is SIR India?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a nationwide voter list verification drive carried out under Article 324 of the Constitution of India and Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. Unlike a routine annual update, SIR involves door-to-door verification, document scrutiny, and correction of voter details.
The ECI announced the nationwide SIR on 27 October 2025. Hence, he describes it as necessary due to urbanisation, migration, new voters, unreported deaths, and duplicate or illegal entries.
SIR 2025 Voter List: Why It Matters
The SIR 2025 voter list is crucial as it will serve as the basis for the upcoming assembly elections in states such as West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. During Phase II of SIR, it covered around 51 crore electors across 321 districts. However, it was launched on 4 November 2025.
Draft electoral rolls released under this phase showed a sharp drop in voter numbers because many voters did not submit their enumeration forms on time. The ECI clarified that names are not deleted immediately. Instead, such voters are placed in a separate verification category.
What Is the 2026 ASD List?
The ASD list stands for Absent, Shifted, Dead or Duplicate voters. Below is the list of voters who might be listed in this list and their details:
- Voters who did not respond to verification were moved to the ASD category
- Their names are temporarily withheld, not permanently removed
- Further verification will be conducted before final rolls are published in February 2026
Around 58 lakh voters were placed in the ASD list in states like West Bengal. However, Rajasthan saw around 44 lakh names flagged in this list. This is significant for overseas Indians. Many Indian expats who are working in the UAE may fall under the “shifted” or “absent” category if records are not updated.
ECI Net Enrolment: Last Date and Key Updates
The ECI Net enrolment portal allows voters to apply online using Form 6 (new enrolment), Form 7 (deletion), and Form 8 (corrections). Below are the key Dates related to SIR India:
- Kerala: Enumeration ends December 18; draft roll on December 23
- Uttar Pradesh: Enumeration till December 26; draft roll on December 31
- Tamil Nadu & Gujarat: It’s draft list on December 19
- Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh: Draft rolls on December 23
Claims, objections, and hearings will continue until February 2026. After that, the final voter list will be frozen.
Political Debate and Public Concerns
The SIR process has sparked a political debate, as opposition parties are alleging bias and fear of mass exclusion. Moreover, concern over links to NRC led to panic in states like West Bengal, especially among the refugee communities.
However, the ECI maintains that the SIR is not a citizenship exercise, but a voter list correction drive. Interestingly, senior leaders like Shashi Tharoor have publicly supported the nationwide SIR. He called it necessary for electoral integrity.
Why SIR Is Important for Democracy
Despite controversies, SIR India plays an important role in the following sectors:
- Removing ghost and duplicate voters
- Ensuring one person, one vote
- Including young voters and migrants
- Improving trust in elections
Keeping voter records updated through ECI Net is the safest way to avoid being included in the ASD list and ensure that voting rights remain intact for Indians living in the UAE.
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