The Election Commission has stated that its decision to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls nationwide received unanimous endorsement from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. This announcement, made on Saturday, comes against the backdrop of reports suggesting internal disagreements within the commission. According to the Election Commission, the comprehensive order was officially issued on June 24, 2025, beginning with Bihar and subsequently extending to West Bengal and 30 additional states and Union territories.

The Commission elaborated that the SIR initiative is part of a series of resolutions made in recent months. Furthermore, it noted that the Supreme Court validated the order through a ruling on May 27, 2026. In total, the SIR timetable for twelve states and Union territories was published on October 27, 2025, while the schedule for an additional nineteen was shared on May 14, 2026. All these actions were taken with the unanimous agreement of the Election Commission.

The final count of electors will only be determined after the electoral rolls for the remaining twelve states are published in the third phase of the operation. This clarification serves to reinforce the collaborative decision-making process within the commission.

Clarifications on Changes to Form 6

The Election Commission addressed recent developments concerning Form 6, which is used for adding names to the voters’ list. It confirmed that the declaration associated with Form 6 for SIR had received the endorsement of the Supreme Court. The Commission stated that during the periods outside of the SIR, the standard forms applicable under the Registration of Electors Rules 1960 will remain in effect. This reassurance comes in light of concerns raised by Sandhu and Joshi regarding changes made to the form.

Reports indicated that modifications to the revised Form 6 included inquiries related to the last SIR, which may have raised objections among some commission members. The Election Commission’s statement sought to clarify the situation by confirming that all regulations were being strictly adhered to, ensuring the integrity of the electoral process.

Further clarification was provided regarding communications from Sandhu and Joshi to the Cabinet Secretary. The Election Commission asserted that these letters did not pertain to any policy matters related to the commission or its IT division. Instead, they dealt with the activities of an officer seconded to the Commission, and that work redistribution orders issued by this officer were not implemented due to interference from the two commissioners.

Updates on Voter Inclusion in Goa

The Election Commission also provided an update regarding voters in Goa who had been excluded from the electoral roll. The Chief Electoral Officer of Goa has instructed Booth Level Officers to conduct house-to-house visits to gather forms from these voters. Out of 97 identified voters, 81 have already submitted Form 6, facilitating their inclusion in the electoral roll.

In addition, the Election Commission stated that individuals who received notices during the SIR process would not be required to attend personal hearings, except in special circumstances. This decision underscores the Commission’s intent to streamline the process for voters while ensuring compliance with legal frameworks.

In response to the reported differences among the commissioners, the Election Commission highlighted that varying viewpoints are an inherent part of institutional discourse. It maintained that its decisions operate within full legal authority and adhere to established statutory procedures. The full Commission convened on September 26 to further discuss these issues while reinforcing its collaborative ethos.

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