Election Commission Holds Full Commission Meeting Amid SIR Concerns, Extends Claims Deadlines and Orders Special Measures for Voters
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, September 26, 2026
A meeting of the Election Commission of India was held today, September 26, 2026, at 3:00 PM at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi, amid heightened public and political attention surrounding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and concerns raised over the implementation of the exercise.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar chaired the meeting, which was attended by the two Election Commissioners, Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi. The meeting of the full Commission took several decisions concerning voters who have received notices during the SIR process, claims and objections, assistance for vulnerable sections, the functioning of the ECINET system and administrative procedures.
One of the key decisions concerns people who have received notices during the ongoing SIR for being unmapped or for alleged logical discrepancies. The Commission has directed Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to visit the homes of such persons, collect the necessary documents and upload them on the ECINET system for consideration by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).
The Commission specifically decided that such persons ordinarily need not be called to the ERO or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) office for a hearing. Only in exceptional circumstances, as decided by the ERO, will a hearing be held, with the Commission stating that such hearings should preferably be conducted online. It has also decided that an adult member of the family may be authorised by the elector to attend the hearing on their behalf, if required. Facilities for online hearings will also be strengthened.
In another important decision, District Election Officers (DEOs) have been directed to establish adequate help desks and hold special camps, according to local requirements, for people living in night shelters, labourers, poor people, homeless persons and other vulnerable sections to facilitate their participation in the electoral-roll process.
The Commission also referred to the declaration attached to Form 6 for the SIR period and stated that it has been upheld by the Supreme Court. For periods outside the SIR exercise, the forms applicable under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, will continue to be used.
The functioning and security of the ECINET system also came under review. The Commission stated that field officers have role-based access to ECINET according to their statutory powers. A committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT/IIM will review the ECINET system to verify its compliance with the relevant Acts and Rules and submit a report to the Commission.
The Commission further stated that several upgrades to the ECINET portal have already been carried out based on inputs received from State Chief Electoral Officers during the past few months. If additional flexibility is required by field officers, the same will be made operational. It was also decided that, henceforth, new initiatives relating to IT modules and portals will be discussed in the Committee of Officers before being placed for approval of the Commission.
In a significant decision concerning the ongoing electoral-roll revision in Delhi and Maharashtra, the Commission has extended the deadlines for filing claims and objections.
Following a request from the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi, the deadline for filing claims and objections has been extended until October 30, 2026. The period for disposal of notices as well as claims and objections has also been extended until November 30, 2026.
For Maharashtra, following a request from the State Chief Electoral Officer, the deadline for filing claims and objections has been extended until October 12, 2026, while the period for disposal of notices and claims and objections has been extended until November 10, 2026.
The Commission also reiterated that SIR has already been completed in 20 States and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal. It stated that any person whose name was left out during SIR or thereafter, including young and first-time voters, can approach the concerned ERO for inclusion in the electoral roll through continuous updation. CEOs, DEOs and EROs have been directed to facilitate such enrolment and launch special drives for eligible voters.
The Commission further clarified that the SIR exercise across the country was undertaken pursuant to decisions approved by the Commission. It stated that the SIR order issued on June 24, 2025, covering all States and Union Territories, beginning with Bihar and followed by West Bengal and other States and UTs, had the unanimous approval of the Commission.
According to the Commission, the schedule for SIR in 12 States and Union Territories was issued on October 27, 2025, while the schedule for another 19 States and Union Territories was issued on May 14, 2026, with the unanimous approval of the Commission. The final number of electors will be known after final publication of the electoral rolls in the remaining 12 States and Union Territories under Phase III.
The Commission also referred to steps being taken in Goa for voters whose names were left out. The CEO of Goa has directed concerned BLOs to conduct house-to-house visits to collect forms from such voters. According to the Commission, 81 out of 97 voters have already submitted Form 6 for inclusion.
The Press Note issued after the meeting also addressed administrative matters within the Election Commission. It stated that agendas for all Commission meetings will be circulated in advance and minutes will be issued. Annual Performance Appraisal Reports of all officers are to be completed within the stipulated timeframe, by December 31 every year. Approval of the Commission will also be taken for foreign trips of officers, while directions issued by the Commissioners to officers of the Commission are to be complied with.
The Commission additionally clarified that a letter sent to the Cabinet Secretary was not related to any policy matter concerning the Commission or its IT division but concerned the working of an officer on deputation to the Election Commission. It stated that work redistribution orders issued by the concerned officer were not actually implemented after orders of the two Commissioners and that oversight over the IT division by the Deputy Election Commissioner was never actually withdrawn.
The meeting comes at a time when the SIR exercise and the functioning of the Election Commission have been subject to intense public and political discussion. The Commission's latest decisions focus on facilitating the participation of voters who have received notices or were left out of the rolls, reducing the need for physical hearings, extending deadlines in Delhi and Maharashtra, strengthening assistance for vulnerable groups and undertaking an independent review of the ECINET system.
The Press Note stated that the decisions were taken at the Commission's meeting held on September 26, 2026, and were approved by the full Commission.
more news...