SIR 2025: How Citizens Can Verify, Correct, and Update Their Voter Details. May be helpful for Competitive exams
What is SIR (Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Roll)?
SIR – Special Intensive Revision is an exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to:
1. Update and clean the electoral roll
- Add names of new eligible voters (18+ and those who recently shifted).
- Delete names of deceased persons.
- Correct errors like wrong name, age, address, gender, etc.
- Update EPIC details, photographs, and linked documents.
2. Ensure maximum accuracy before major elections
SIR is usually undertaken:
- Before General Elections
- Before Assembly Elections
- In states where large-scale migration, deaths, or errors are detected
- When ECI receives complaints about bogus, duplicate, or missing voters
Why SIR is in News?
SIR is in the news because the Election Commission has launched a nationwide special drive; however, opposition parties are opposing it in states for reasons such as the very short duration.
- Enroll first-time voters (18–19 years)
- Clean electoral rolls with Aadhaar-based authentication (voluntary)
- Conduct door-to-door verification through BLOs
- Prepare updated rolls for upcoming state elections and Lok Sabha 2029 buildup
In many states, the ECI has instructed:
- BLOs to personally visit households
- Special camps to be held at polling booths
- Deadlines for inclusion, deletion, and correction of entries
This makes it a major political-administrative exercise frequently reported in news.
How to Increase Citizen Participation in SIR?
Here are practical and actionable ways the government, district administration, or even individuals can encourage participation:
1. Awareness Campaigns
- Use social media: WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram reels, short videos.
- Radio jingles & local FM announcements.
- Posters in schools, colleges, panchayat offices, shops, autos, buses.
2. School & College Voter Registration Drives
- Appoint “Campus Ambassadors.”
- BLOs set up camps in college premises.
- Help 18+ students register on the spot.
3. Door-to-Door Outreach
- Community volunteers + BLOs visit households.
- Provide simple checklists for corrections, inclusion, deletion.
4. Special Camps at Polling Stations (Saturdays/Sundays)
- ECI often holds weekend camps.
- Publicize dates through local newspapers and panchayat announcements.
5. Use of Digital Platforms
- Encourage citizens to use Voter Helpline App or NVSP Portal.
- QR-code posters linking directly to Form-6 (new registration), Form-8 (correction), Form-7 (deletion).
6. Collaboration with Local Bodies
- Panchayat, municipal workers, teachers, ASHA, Anganwadi workers can spread awareness.
- Booth-level meetings with RWAs (Resident Welfare Associations).
7. Incentivised Participation Campaigns
(Not gifts or freebies—only motivational incentives allowed by ECI guidelines.)
- “Youth Voter Week”
- Certificate of participation for college students
- Competitions, rallies, street plays
8. Media Partnerships
- Short interviews with BLOs.
- Success stories of new young voters.
- Myth-busting segments (“Aadhaar not mandatory”, “Correction is free”, etc.)
