India’s electoral landscape is undergoing a significant transformation as the Election Commission of India (ECI) rolls out the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) forms—a sweeping initiative designed to enhance the accuracy and transparency of the country’s voter rolls. This effort, which began its enumeration phase on November 4, 2025, is already making waves across twelve states and union territories, with a particular spotlight on Tamil Nadu, where upcoming 2026 elections have heightened the stakes.
According to a statement released by the ECI on November 18, more than 50.25 crore of the nearly 51 crore electors in nine states and three union territories have already received their SIR enumeration forms. That’s an impressive 98.54% coverage of the 50.97 crore voters involved—a figure that underscores both the scale and ambition of the project. The enumeration phase itself is set to continue until December 4, with the draft electoral roll scheduled for publication on December 7. After a period for claims and objections, the final list will be released on February 9, 2026, just in time for several key state elections, including those in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and West Bengal.
The SIR forms, available both in print and online, represent a leap forward in digitizing India’s electoral processes. As of mid-November, about six crore forms—roughly 11.76%—have been digitized, with Goa leading the pack in terms of digital uptake and Uttar Pradesh lagging behind. The online SIR form system is intended to make registration and corrections more accessible and transparent, helping to eliminate duplicate entries and outdated information. This digital approach, the ECI hopes, will empower citizens to play a more active role in ensuring their information is accurate, thereby fostering greater trust in the electoral system.
But while the numbers are promising, the rollout has not been without controversy or challenge. Nowhere is this more evident than in Tamil Nadu, where the federation of various associations of revenue officials (FERA) announced on November 18 that 18,500 revenue staff had begun a boycott of all SIR-related work. Their grievances? Extreme work pressure, unrealistic timelines, inadequate training, and insufficient human and financial resources for the massive roll revision exercise. Employees from other departments, including rural development and social welfare, have joined the boycott, amplifying its impact.
FERA’s state coordinator, M P Murugaiyan, explained to The New Indian Express that the boycott was not a decision taken lightly. “We have sought the assurances in writing. We will continue to boycott the SIR work on Wednesday,” he stated, emphasizing that the staff’s demands included an extension of the enumeration period beyond December 4 and better treatment for workers, some of whom have reportedly been pressured to work until 1 am daily. Murugaiyan also highlighted a troubling incident in Kumbakonam, where an anganwadi worker deputed as a booth level officer attempted suicide due to work-related stress—a stark reminder of the human toll such ambitious undertakings can exact.
Senior government officials, including Revenue Secretary P Amutha and Commissioner of Revenue Administration M Saikumar, met with FERA representatives to address these concerns. They promised to relay the demand for an extended enumeration period to the Election Commission and to instruct district administrations to curb harsh treatment and excessive work hours. However, FERA continues to press for written assurances and has vowed to persist with the boycott until their concerns are formally addressed.
The impact of the boycott has varied across the state. While senior officials maintain that SIR work is largely continuing as usual, especially in municipal corporations, reports from districts such as Madurai, Virudhunagar, Dindigul, and Kanniyakumari suggest otherwise, with 300 to 500 employees per district refusing to participate. In Tiruchy, 1,400 out of 2,543 booth level officers affiliated with the federation did not turn up for work, indicating a moderate disruption to the process. FERA has also submitted another representation to Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik, reiterating their demand to extend the SIR timeframe to three months to alleviate the pressure on staff.
The unrest isn’t limited to revenue staff. The Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisations and Government Employees Organisation (JACTTO-GEO) staged a one-day token strike on November 18, with over one lakh employees participating—a level of mobilization not seen in the past five years. K Bhaskaran, JACTTO-GEO’s state coordinator, noted that the group plans to meet next week to consider escalating their agitation if their demands are not met. The strike and boycott highlight the broader challenges of implementing large-scale electoral reforms in a country as vast and diverse as India, where logistical hurdles and resource constraints can quickly become flashpoints.
Despite these setbacks, the broader public sentiment toward the SIR initiative remains largely positive. Many voters have welcomed the increased transparency and the ability to correct their information online, seeing these reforms as a step toward more trustworthy and inclusive elections. According to Meyka AI PTY LTD, the public’s embrace of the new system is fostering greater trust and engagement in the electoral process—a crucial factor for the success of future campaigns and reforms.
There’s little doubt that the SIR forms represent a major milestone in India’s ongoing journey toward electoral modernization. By leveraging technology and expanding digital access, the Election Commission is not only aiming for error-free rolls ahead of the 2026 elections but also setting a precedent that could shape the conduct of Indian elections for years to come. The challenges are significant—ensuring public awareness, providing adequate internet access, and addressing the concerns of overburdened staff—but so too are the potential rewards: a fairer, more transparent, and more participatory democracy.
As the enumeration phase moves toward its December 4 deadline, all eyes will be on how the ECI navigates these competing pressures. Will the commission heed the calls for more time and resources, or will it stick to its ambitious schedule? Either way, the outcome will have profound implications—not just for the upcoming polls in Tamil Nadu and other states, but for the integrity of India’s democracy itself.
With the final electoral rolls set for release in February 2026, the coming months will test the resilience and adaptability of India’s electoral machinery. The hope, among both officials and ordinary voters, is that these reforms will ultimately yield a process that is not only more efficient, but also more just and inclusive—laying the groundwork for a new era in Indian democracy.
