Chandigarh Administration Accelerates Preparations for Electoral Roll Revision
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has formally instructed the Chandigarh administration to complete all preparatory activities for the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, scheduled to commence in April 2026. Chandigarh joins nearly two dozen states and Union Territories where this comprehensive revision exercise will be implemented to ensure accurate and updated voter databases.
Final Phase of Groundwork Underway
Following official communication from the ECI last week, the Union Territory's election department has entered the conclusive stage of its pre-SIR groundwork across the city. Officials confirmed that the majority of house-to-house mapping work has been successfully completed through an extensive and aggressive field exercise, designed to guarantee full readiness before the SIR officially begins.
The ECI's directive, issued to chief electoral officers (CEOs) of Chandigarh and other participating states and UTs, clearly states: "The Commission ordered Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral roll to be undertaken in all the states and UTs. In continuation to this, the Commission directed all the CEOs (except Bihar) to initiate pre-revision activities for the SIR exercise. Since the Special Intensive Revision in the above states/UTs is expected to start from April 2026, you are requested to complete preparatory work related to SIR, at the earliest."
Comprehensive Verification Infrastructure in Place
The Chandigarh administration has established a robust verification framework with 12 assistant election returning officers (AEROs) overseeing approximately 700 block level officers (BLOs) deployed throughout the city. As part of the meticulous pre-SIR verification process, these BLOs have been conducting systematic door-to-door visits to examine election-related details of voters and confirm their presence at registered addresses.
A senior Chandigarh administration officer revealed that the department has already mapped more than 66% of the city's voters. According to official records up to February 20, 2026, Chandigarh had 547,412 registered voters, of whom 362,903 have been successfully mapped through comprehensive field verification exercises.
Procedures for Absent Voters During SIR
Officials emphasized that with over 66% mapping already achieved, most of the preliminary SIR work is complete. Once the Special Intensive Revision begins in April 2026, voters found absent during verification will receive formal notices and be granted sufficient time to confirm their presence and provide explanations for any periods of non-availability.
Those who fail to respond or cannot justify their absence may face necessary corrections as per established electoral norms, while voters providing valid reasons will be retained on the rolls accordingly. The officer further clarified that during the SIR process, missing voters will be given full opportunity to explain their circumstances, with subsequent actions determined by verification outcomes and established procedures.
Key Statistics and Implementation Framework
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to begin in Chandigarh in April 2026 following formal ECI approval
- Chandigarh election department in final phase of pre-SIR groundwork after completing majority of house-to-house mapping
- ECI letter requested all CEOs (except Bihar) to complete pre-revision activities at the earliest possible date
- 700 BLOs working under 12 AEROs conducted door-to-door verification across the entire city
- Over 66% of voters already mapped during extensive field visits before SIR launch
- Absent voters will receive notices during SIR to confirm presence and provide reasons for non-availability
- Voters presenting valid reasons for absence will be retained on electoral rolls as per established norms
Vital Electoral Statistics
- Total electors as of February 20, 2026: 547,412
- Total mapped electors through field verification: 362,903
- Progeny voters: 1,801
- Percentage of mapped electors: 66.29%
- SIR commencement date in Chandigarh: April 2026
