EC Undertakes Roll Revision in 14 States Amid ‘Vote Chori’ Allegations 2026 Cleanup Scheduled for Remaining 22 States

New Delhi, Dec 26: Battling allegations of “vote chori” from the opposition Congress, the Election Commission (EC) conducted a special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls this year in 13 states and Union territories, along with a special revision in Assam. The poll body is set to carry out similar exercises in the remaining 22 states and Union territories in 2026.

Officials said that the exercise has so far covered nearly 60 crore electors, with the remaining 40 crore set to be included next year in phased rollouts. With digitisation of voter details underway, the EC aims to make the process more automated and backend driven in the coming years.

Smooth Elections in Bihar Highlight SIR Effectiveness

This year, the EC also conducted assembly elections in Bihar, marking one of the first instances in decades where polling proceeded without major election day violence. No re-polls were recommended across the state’s 243 assembly seats. Polling booth rationalisation was implemented, reducing maximum voters per booth from 1,500 to 1,200, helping to cut queues.

New measures included mobile phone deposit boxes, allowing voters to carry phones to polling stations, improving convenience and security.

Legal Disputes and Political Reactions

The SIR exercise faced legal and political challenges. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote theft prompted the Chief Election Commissioner to seek an apology for unproven claims—an unprecedented move. Opposition parties raised concerns that the SIR process could disenfranchise eligible voters due to documentation requirements, with several approaching the Supreme Court. The top court upheld the EC’s powers to conduct SIR, allowing Aadhaar as an additional document for voter inclusion.

Despite opposition claims, the Bihar assembly elections indicated limited impact on voter turnout or sentiment.

Key Objectives: Weeding Out Illegal Migrants

The SIR primarily aims to identify and remove foreign illegal migrants by verifying places of birth. This follows a broader crackdown on illegal migration in multiple states, including from Bangladesh and Myanmar. Lessons from Bihar have been applied to improve procedures in the remaining 12 states and Union territories, ensuring electors can submit required documents efficiently.

Updated Schedules for States

The EC extended SIR timelines in six regions, including Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Uttar Pradesh, with draft electoral rolls now published in phases between December 19 and December 31. For other regions like Goa, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Kerala, enumeration and draft roll publication are ongoing or completed, ensuring full coverage of eligible voters.

Electors are encouraged to submit Form 6, either in person via block-level officers (BLOs) or online through the ECINet portal or app, to ensure their names appear in the final electoral rolls, scheduled for publication in February 2026.