Election Commission extends Maharashtra SIR deadline to October 12

On Saturday, the Election Commission of India (EC) convened a pivotal meeting to address the contentious issue of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. All decisions pertaining to the nationwide SIR process, including the recent orders issued on June 24, 2025, were unanimously approved by the EC, despite recent reports suggesting internal divisions within the Commission.

The EC clarified that voters receiving notices during the SIR due to being unmapped or having logical discrepancies would not typically be required to appear before an electoral registration officer (ERO). Instead, booth-level officers (BLOs) will visit their homes to gather necessary documents, which will then be uploaded onto the ECINet portal for the ERO to review. Hearings will be limited to exceptional cases, with the possibility of online proceedings.

To accommodate voters facing difficulties, the EC directed district election officers to establish help desks and special camps for individuals residing in night shelters, laborers, the impoverished, and homeless persons. The Commission emphasized that SIR has been finalized in 20 states and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal.

The EC also addressed a recent letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary, emphasizing that it pertained to officer deputation matters, not EC policy decisions. It denied allegations of IT division work redistribution, stating that such orders were not implemented following Supreme Court directives.

In a bid to streamline the enrolment process, the Commission extended the deadline for filing claims and objections in Delhi until October 30 and in Maharashtra until October 12, with notice disposal extending to November 30. In Maharashtra, the deadline for claims and objections has been extended until October 12, with notice disposal continuing until November 10.

The EC further announced that a committee, including a senior Deputy Election Commissioner and an independent expert from IIT/IIIT, will evaluate the ECINet system to ensure adherence to relevant laws and regulations. Future IT module and portal initiatives will undergo review by this committee before approval.

Lastly, the Commission reiterated that the SIR order, issued on June 24, 2025, has garnered unanimous approval and was upheld by the Supreme Court on May 27, 2026. In Goa, BLOs have been tasked with visiting voters omitted from the electoral rolls, with 81 out of 97 such voters already submitting Form 6 for inclusion.