People who have received notices during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls will not have to appear personally before Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), except in exceptional cases, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Saturday.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the Commission held today, the ECI said in a press note. This came after The Indian Express flagged a major rift within the poll panel, alleging that two election commissioners had raised several issues that went unnoticed.
As per the press note, the poll panel has addressed some of the issues raised in the media report, including a review of ECINet.
BLOs to visit homes of noticees
For people who have been issued notices because they are unmapped or have logical discrepancies, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit their homes to collect documents, the ECI said.
The documents will then be uploaded on the ECINet system for a decision by the ERO.
“Such persons need not be called for hearing to ERO/AERO office,” the Commission said in its press note dated September 26, 2026.
The ECI said a hearing would be held only in exceptional circumstances, as decided by the ERO, and would preferably be conducted online. An adult family member can also be authorised by the elector to attend the hearing on their behalf, if required.
The Commission also said facilities for online hearings would be strengthened.
Help desks for vulnerable groups
District Election Officers (DEOs) have been asked to set up adequate help desks and hold special camps for people living in night shelters, labourers, poor people and homeless persons, based on requirements, the ECI said.
Form 6 declaration
The ECI also said the declaration attached to Form 6 for SIR had been upheld by the Supreme Court.
“For non-SIR period, the Forms applicable as per Rules (the Registration of Electors Rules 1960) will be used,” the Commission said.
ECINet to undergo review
The Commission said field officers have role-based access to the ECINet system according to their statutory powers.
A committee headed by a Senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from IIT/IIT will review ECINet to check whether it complies with the provisions of the Acts and Rules, according to the press note.
The committee will submit its report to the Commission. The ECI also said several upgrades to the portal had already been made based on inputs from state Chief Electoral Officers in recent months.
“Any further flexibility is required by the field officers, that will be made operational,” the Commission said.
It added that new initiatives concerning IT modules and portals would be discussed in the Committee of Officers before being approved by the Commission.
Deadlines extended in Delhi, Maharashtra
The Commission has extended the deadline for filing claims and objections in Delhi till October 30, 2026, following a request from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Delhi.
The deadline for disposal of notices and claims and objections in Delhi has been extended till November 30, 2026.
In Maharashtra, the deadline for filing claims and objections has been extended till October 12, 2026, while their disposal has been extended till November 10, 2026, following a request from the state CEO.
SIR has been completed in 20 States and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal.
People whose names were left out during SIR or subsequently, including young and first-time voters, can apply to the concerned ERO for inclusion in the electoral rolls through the process of continuous updation. CEOs, DEOs and EROs have been directed to launch a special drive for enrolment of such electors, the Commission said.
