LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh launched the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of its voter list on October 28, 2025. It is a large-scale campaign which aims to clean the electoral rolls and ensure that every eligible citizen finds their name in the list. The exercise is being conducted under the supervision of the Election Commission of India, and has begun simultaneously in 12 states, marking the first such revision in 22 years. The last intensive revision in Uttar Pradesh was conducted in 2003. According to Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa, the purpose of the SIR is to purify the voter list by removing duplicate, ineligible, or deceased voters and adding new eligible names, particularly those of young voters and women.
Uttar Pradesh, with nearly 15.44 crore registered voters across 1,62,486 polling booths, represents around 7 percent of India’s total electorate, making the exercise critical ahead of future elections. However, the move has already sparked debate, as estimates suggest that up to 1.30 crore names may be deleted from the final list once the process concludes.
As per the official schedule, the campaign will proceed in multiple stages. From October 28 to November 3, officials will focus on preparatory work, including staff training and form printing. The door-to-door verification drive by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will take place between November 4 and December 4, during which citizens will be required to fill or verify voter forms. The draft voter list will be published on December 9, following which citizens can file claims or objections for adding, deleting, or correcting names from December 9, 2025, to January 8, 2026. These claims will then be verified and resolved between December 9 and January 31, 2026. The final voter list will be released on February 7, 2026. Officials have also confirmed that no polling booth in Uttar Pradesh will have more than 1,200 voters. To maintain this cap, new polling stations will be created, and existing ones will be reorganized to reduce crowding and irregularities, if any.
निर्वाचक नामावली के विशेष प्रगाढ़ पुनरीक्षण (SIR)कराये जाने हेतु तिथिवार कार्यक्रम जारी
जनपद के सभी बूथों पर एक साथ चलेगा SIR अभियान
हर विधानसभा क्षेत्र में निर्वाचक रजिस्ट्रीकरण अधिकारी व बूथ लेवल अधिकारी होगे सक्रिय
सभी राजनैतिक दल व मतदाता,अभियान में दें सहयोग@ceoup @UPGovt pic.twitter.com/DN2UgOB0HJ
— District Magistrate Bhadohi (@DM_Bhadohi) October 28, 2025
On the second phase of SIR, UP BJP President Bhupendra Chaudhary says, “To make the voter list more transparent and accurate, the Election Commission has implemented SIR. This is a significant step, and the BJP welcomed it. After SIR is implemented, the election process will become transparent and fair. Along with public participation, technological advancement, and reliable data, SIR is an essential step, and the opposition should also support it…”
The SIR is being termed a “voter list purification drive”, a process the Election Commission says is essential to maintain electoral integrity. Over the years, many entries in the list have become outdated due to deaths, migration, or duplicate registrations. Under the campaign, such names will be removed. New voters, especially those aged 18-19 who will be voting for the first time, will also be enrolled. Special emphasis is also being laid on adding women voters, particularly those whose names were not updated after marriage. Citizens can check their names and submit forms both online and offline. Digital facilities such as the Voter Helpline App, the portal voterportal.eci.gov.in, and helpline number 1950 will help voters access and update information easily.
Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa said that the state machinery has been fully trained and mobilized. Uttar Pradesh has deployed 75 District Election Officers, 403 Registration Officers, 2,042 Assistant Officers, and 1,62,486 BLOs to carry out the exercise. He appealed to citizens to cooperate with BLOs, fill forms correctly, and keep identity documents like Aadhaar and photo ID cards ready. “This is not just paperwork, it is an opportunity to strengthen every citizen’s right to vote,” he said.
Though the main opposition in the state that is the Samajwadi Party has accused accused the ruling government of misusing the campaign to delete names belonging to its voter base, the Election Commission has enied any bias, and stated that the complete process is transparent and is being conducted under uniform national guidelines.
The SIR campaign has attracted national attention, as similar exercises in states like Bihar earlier this year led to the removal of over 65 lakh names from electoral rolls. Legal experts point out that the Supreme Court has made it clear that if any illegality is detected in such revisions, the process could be challenged and struck down. With Uttar Pradesh now under the spotlight, all eyes are on how effectively the state manages the delicate balance between cleaning up voter rolls and ensuring that no eligible citizen loses their right to vote.
For citizens, the message is clear: vigilance is key. They must verify their names once the draft list is released and promptly file objections if needed. As officials remind, losing one’s name in the list means losing one’s vote and, in turn, one’s voice in the democratic process.
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