Dehradun: The Election Commission of India is currently conducting the second phase of the SIR process in various states across the country. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process will also begin in Uttarakhand in the next few months. The Chief Electoral Office of Uttarakhand has already begun its procedures before the SIR process begins. The Chief Electoral Office has begun matching voters from 2003 to 2025. During this matching, various important points are being taken into account.
The Chief Electoral Officer’s Office releases a provisional and final list of voters every year. The primary purpose of this process is to update the voter list by adding new voters, removing deceased voters, and correcting errors in voter information. This process also allows young people who have reached the age of 18 to exercise their right to vote. The Chief Electoral Office also periodically conducts campaigns to add and remove names from the voter list, ensuring that a maximum number of valid voters can exercise their right to vote during elections.
Checking These Voters
In this context, the dates for the proposed Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Uttarakhand have not yet been finalized. Nevertheless, the Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer’s office has begun preparations for the SIR. Following the release of the 2003 voter list, the Commission has begun comparing the current voter list with the 2025 voter list. This primarily involves identifying and separating voters whose names and locations are identical in the 2003 and 2025 voter lists. Furthermore, the number of voters who have changed districts is also being examined to identify duplications in the voter list and ensure accurate voter information is available.
Documents will be required for these voters
This initiative, being undertaken by the Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer’s office, will be beneficial during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. During the SIR, the voter verification staff will not need to collect documents from all voters. This means that documents will not be required from voters whose names appear on the 2003 and 2025 electoral rolls. Documents will only be collected from voters who have been added later, and those who have changed their district or address.
SIR in These 12 States
Following a controversy over the number of voters in Bihar, the Election Commission of India initiated the SIR process for the electoral rolls in Bihar. Subsequently, the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is underway in Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, along with Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. The SIR process will continue in all 12 states and union territories until the end of January, and the final voter list will be released on February 7, 2026.
SIR likely in Uttarakhand in the third phase
After the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in the second phase, the SIR process for voter lists is expected to begin in Uttarakhand and other states, including Himachal Pradesh, in the third phase. All voters will be required to fill out a form during the SIR. However, only those voters whose names were added to the voter list after 2003 will be required to provide documents. Furthermore, voters whose parents’ names appear in the 2003 voter list will not need to provide any documents.
Rules for Married Women
According to the Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer’s office, if a voter has changed their address or assembly constituency, they should inform them before the SIR process to avoid any difficulties during the SIR. Additionally, women who have married into Uttarakhand from other states after 2003 will need to bring documents from their parents’ homes to retain their names on the voter list. These documents must include documents proving their name appears on the 2003 voter list of the state from which they migrated to Uttarakhand during the SIR. If their name is not on the 2003 voter list, they will need to submit a list of their parents’ names.
These voters may face increased difficulties
According to the Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer’s office, the voter list will be frozen upon the commencement of the SIR in Uttarakhand. Consequently, changes to names, addresses, and assembly constituencies in the Uttarakhand voter list will be impossible. Therefore, if any voter currently needs to make any changes to their voter ID card, they can do so by visiting the website voters.eci.gov.in before the SIR begins in the state. Additionally, if a person has their vote in two places, they should contact the BLO and have it removed before the SIR begins. Otherwise, after the SIR begins, such double voters will be issued a notice. They will then have to go to the SDM and submit their response.
