The enumeration phase for the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Karnataka, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Delhi is set to begin from June 30.

There is a total of 19,78,94,740 voters in these five States as of May 12. The final voter lists for these States post the SIR process will be published on October 7.

The ongoing third phase of the SIR is being conducted in 16 States and three Union Territories. Over 3.94 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will go house to house to verify 36.73 crore electors, assisted by 3.42 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties in this phase.

Pruning the rolls

With this phase, the exercise will cover the entire country except Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The SIR schedule for these will be announced later after considering the completion of Phase-II of the Census and due consideration of the weather in the upper reaches or snow bound areas, the ECI said.

When the second phase of the SIR was announced for 12 States/UTs by the ECI on October 27, 2025, their cumulative voter base stood at more than 50.99 crore. It now stands at 45.81 crore voters post the SIR, a decline of over 5.18 crore or a 10.2% cut in the electoral rolls of these States and UTs.

With a number of those States going to the polls in subsequent months, the SIR process triggered acrimony between the Opposition and the Election Commission, and has been challenged in courts as well. In March, however, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the constitutional validity of the ECI’s move to carry out the SIR.