Sun Sep 21 09:54:19 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed state election officers to prepare for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, potentially launching as early as October-November. This nationwide cleanup exercise follows the model used in Bihar and aims to remove ineligible voters, particularly illegal foreign migrants, by verifying their place of birth. State election officers have been instructed to have their existing voter lists (published after the last SIR, which occurred mostly between 2002-2004) ready for comparison and revision. This initiative is significant as several states face Assembly elections in 2026.

**News Article:**

**India Gears Up for Massive Voter List Overhaul Ahead of 2026 Elections**

**New Delhi – September 21, 2025:** The Election Commission of India (ECI) has instructed all State election officers to prepare for a nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, signaling a major cleanup operation set to begin as early as October. The initiative, prompted by concerns over ineligible voters including illegal foreign migrants, is designed to ensure the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls ahead of key Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal in 2026.

According to sources within the ECI, the directive was issued during a conference of State Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) earlier this month, with a final deadline of September 30th set for preparation. State CEOs have been tasked with compiling existing voter lists published after the last SIR in their respective regions, which for most states occurred between 2002 and 2004. These lists will serve as the baseline for the upcoming intensive revision.

The ECI has emphasized that the primary objective of the SIR is to identify and remove ineligible voters, focusing on verifying their place of birth, particularly to address the issue of illegal foreign migrants. This move follows successful implementation of a similar process in Bihar, where the 2003 voter list is being used for intensive revision.

“The Commission is committed to upholding the sanctity of the electoral process,” stated an ECI spokesperson. “This nationwide SIR is a crucial step towards ensuring that only eligible citizens are registered to vote.”

The planned voter list overhaul takes on added significance in light of recent crackdowns on illegal immigration in various states. With Assembly elections on the horizon in 2026, a clean and accurate voter roll is considered paramount to ensuring a free and fair electoral process.

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