Following the completion of Systematic Electoral Roll Revision (SIR) in Bihar, the Election Commission is extending the process across the entire nation. The commission’s intentions were revealed in an affidavit filed in response to a petition that requested SIR in several states, including West Bengal. The affidavit confirmed that the commission had directed all Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) to initiate preparations for SIR.
The standard date for SIR implementation across India is January 1, 2026, which will be used as the base date for all operations. The commission maintains that it has the sole authority and responsibility for carrying out SIR. In 2026, the states of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal are scheduled to hold assembly elections, thus, the commission plans to carry out SIR in these locations.
The Election Commission has stated that it will take the difficulties encountered during the Bihar SIR into account when implementing SIR in other states. The Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar informed the commission of the procedures and difficulties encountered during SIR, to ensure that similar issues are avoided, and SIR is implemented without problems in other states.
A recent meeting was held by the Election Commission with the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of all states and union territories. This meeting included discussions of key concerns related to SIR in various states, as well as a focus on the effective management of upcoming assembly elections.
The Election Commission’s initial decision to conduct SIR was to address voter list problems in Bihar. Later, the commission declared its intention to implement SIR throughout the country. The opposition parties have criticized this move, claiming the BJP intends to steal votes and disenfranchise voters, leading to legal challenges.