The Election Commission of India has announced a significant extension to the Special Summary Revision (SIR) Phase 2 timeline across all 12 participating states and Union territories, providing additional time to ensure complete transparency in the electoral process.
Extended Timeline for Enhanced Scrutiny
In a major decision aimed at strengthening electoral integrity, the poll body has granted booth level officers (BLOs) an extra week to share comprehensive lists with political parties. The enumeration period will now continue until December 11, instead of the originally scheduled December 4 cutoff.
This extension directly impacts the subsequent electoral calendar. The draft electoral roll publication has been rescheduled from December 9 to December 16, while the deadline for submitting claims and objections remains January 15, 2026. The final electoral roll will now be published on February 14, 2026, a week later than the previous February 7 deadline.
Addressing Electoral Malpractices
The decision to extend all legs of SIR comes amid concerning reports of alleged electoral malpractices in various states. Investigation has revealed instances where enumeration forms were submitted by ineligible persons, including illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, using identities of deceased electors.
More disturbingly, there have been cases where login credentials of deceased booth level officers were misused to upload enumeration forms signed in the names of dead voters. Although officials indicate these cases might be limited in number, the Commission is taking proactive measures to address any potential vulnerabilities in the system.
The extended timeline will enable political parties, through their booth level agents (BLAs), to receive and scrutinize lists of absent, permanently shifted, deceased, and duplicate entries even before the draft rolls are officially published. This pre-publication sharing provides rival parties with an opportunity to object to any incorrect findings and identify attempts to include ineligible persons through impersonation of dead voters.
Strategic Timing and Implementation Progress
An official familiar with the decision explained that the timing is strategically advantageous since the next round of assembly polls in five states and Union territories, including West Bengal, is scheduled only for April-May 2026. This gives the election authority sufficient flexibility to extend the SIR process by a week to ensure a near-perfect electoral roll.
The official emphasized that correcting errors and anomalies in advance will significantly minimize doubts, apprehensions, and complaints that typically arise after the publication of draft rolls. This proactive approach aims to build greater confidence in the electoral process among all stakeholders.
Interestingly, the extension comes despite the enumeration exercise progressing satisfactorily across most regions. Current data shows that enumeration forms for 84.3% of electors across the 12 states and Union territories have already been collected.
The state-wise progress reveals impressive completion rates: Lakshadweep leads at 100%, followed by Goa (96.6%), Rajasthan (95.6%), West Bengal (95.2%), Madhya Pradesh (92.7%), Puducherry (92.1%), Chhattisgarh (88.7%), Tamil Nadu (87.6%), Gujarat (86%), Andaman & Nicobar Islands (83.6%), Kerala (81.2%), and Uttar Pradesh (69.5%).
Election Commission officials confirmed that work progress in all five states and Union territories due for polls in mid-2026, including West Bengal, remains satisfactory. Regarding Uttar Pradesh's relatively lower completion rate, officials noted that assembly elections there are scheduled only for mid-2027, giving the Commission ample scope to extend timelines specifically for the state if necessary.
This comprehensive extension demonstrates the Election Commission's commitment to ensuring electoral integrity through enhanced transparency and thorough verification processes, setting a robust foundation for the upcoming state elections.
