Election Commission's Digital Drive Nears Completion
The Election Commission of India (ECI) reported significant progress in its ambitious digital initiative, announcing that nearly three-fourths of all enumeration forms have been successfully digitised with just one week remaining until the deadline. This massive exercise is part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls currently underway across nine Indian states and three Union Territories.
Current Status: Numbers Tell the Story
According to the latest official statement released on Friday, the election authority has achieved 74.10% digitisation of the approximately 51 crore enumeration forms distributed to electors. In concrete numbers, this translates to 37.77 crore forms out of the total 50.97 crore electors being processed digitally.
The distribution network has demonstrated remarkable efficiency, with 99.43% of forms – amounting to 50.68 crore documents – already reaching registered voters across the participating regions. However, the digitisation progress reveals striking regional variations that highlight both success stories and areas requiring urgent attention.
Regional Disparities: From Perfect Scores to Lagging Figures
The Union Territory of Lakshadweep has emerged as the standout performer, achieving complete digitisation of all its voter forms. This perfect score sets a benchmark for other regions to emulate in the final week of the campaign.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, presents the most significant challenge with only 54.97% of forms digitised so far. This substantial gap indicates the need for intensified efforts in the state as the December 4 deadline approaches.
Understanding the Special Intensive Revision
The SIR represents a departure from the routine annual electoral roll revisions. This comprehensive exercise requires every registered voter to submit enumeration forms and supporting documentation within a strictly defined one-month period to maintain their status on the electoral rolls.
The current phase, which commenced on November 4, will conclude on December 4. Following this, the Election Commission will publish the draft electoral roll on December 9, based entirely on the forms submitted and digitised by the deadline.
Voters will then have a one-month window to file claims and objections before the publication of the final electoral roll, scheduled for February 7, 2026.
Background and Previous Implementation
The Election Commission initially announced the nationwide SIR program on June 24, beginning with Bihar where assembly elections were anticipated. The successful completion of this pilot in Bihar saw the final electoral roll published on September 30, resulting in a 6% reduction in the number of electors, indicating the process's effectiveness in cleaning the voter lists.
On October 27, the EC expanded the SIR to include Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
As the deadline approaches, all eyes remain on the Election Commission's race against time to ensure maximum participation and accuracy in this critical democratic exercise that forms the foundation of free and fair elections.
