A nationwide special revision of electoral rolls is likely to kick off by October, according to sources in the Election Commission. The proposal was discussed and approved during a meeting of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) from all states and Union Territories held on Wednesday.

The exercise, officially called the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), aims to clean up India’s voter database by removing names of deceased individuals, people who have permanently relocated, duplicate entries, or non-citizens — while ensuring that every eligible voter is included.

A similar revision drive was recently conducted in Bihar ahead of the state’s upcoming assembly elections. The Commission now plans to replicate that process across the country. Sources said the announcement for the nationwide SIR could come even before voting concludes in Bihar.

During the meeting, most CEOs said they would be ready to begin the process by October, with preparatory work completed by September.

The day-long conference, which featured over three hours of presentations, focused on logistics and planning. The Election Commission also instructed state CEOs to compile region-specific lists of acceptable documents for voter verification, keeping in mind local contexts — particularly in tribal, northeastern, and coastal regions where unique documents are often used.

Despite political pushback in Bihar — with opposition parties like the Congress, RJD, and Trinamool Congress warning of potential voter deletions from marginalised communities — the poll panel has stood by the initiative. It maintains that regular updates are essential to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the electoral rolls.