A Muslim jama’ath in Edappally helps voters fill census forms in Kochi, Kerala, November 13, 2025. | Photo credit: H. Vibhu
Census forms have been sent to more than 91% of people whose names appear in the current electoral rolls of 12 states and union territories where the second phase of special intensive revision of electoral rolls is underway, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Friday (Nov 14, 2025).
The house-to-house census process is currently going on from November 4 to December 4 and the draft lists will be released on December 9. After that, the window for complaints and objections will be open until January 8. From December 9 to January 31, election officials will issue notices, hold hearings and conduct verification procedures. The final electoral lists will then be published on February 7.
In most of these states, the last electoral roll SIR was conducted between 2002 and 2004.
Kerala lags behind
A total of 46,50,81,981 enumeration forms were distributed in these 12 states and UTs: Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakhswadweep and Puducherry. As on 27 October 2025, there were 50,99,72,687 voters on the roll in these states and UTs.
Opinion: Deficiencies in SIR voter lists
Lakshadweep and Goa have covered almost 100% of their existing registered voters, while Kerala lags behind other states with only 75% coverage. The state government has asked to postpone the SIR process due to the upcoming local polls.
West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which witnessed large-scale anti-SIR demonstrations, covered 96.7% and 87.7% of their voters respectively.
Gujarat completed 97.4% distribution, followed by Rajasthan (95.1%), Puducherry (93.6%) and Madhya Pradesh (93%), Uttar Pradesh (89%) and Chhattisgarh (88.2%). The UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands distributed forms to 96.9% of its registered voters.
The first phase of SIR was conducted in Bihar and resulted in deletion of more than 68 thousand names from the state electoral rolls.
Published – 14 Nov 2025 20:16 IST
