As Maharashtra gears up for one of its largest democratic exercises in recent memory, the state finds itself at the intersection of two major electoral processes: the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, and the much-anticipated local body elections. Both undertakings, while distinct in scope and purpose, are deeply intertwined in their impact on the state’s political future and the everyday lives of its citizens.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched a sweeping Special Intensive Revision (SIR) across 13 states and Union Territories, with Maharashtra among the most prominent participants. The initiative, which began in Bihar, has now expanded rapidly, drawing widespread attention and a fair bit of confusion. Many voters are asking: What exactly is SIR, and why is it suddenly so important?
According to the ECI, SIR is not just another routine paperwork exercise. Instead, it represents a large-scale verification effort, including house-to-house enumeration, pre-filled forms, online submissions, and—most critically—a fresh check of old voter data. The core aim? To address what the Commission calls “legacy data” issues—errors and inaccuracies that have crept into the rolls since the last nationwide house-to-house revision, which took place more than two decades ago, between 2002 and 2004.
Article 324 of the Indian Constitution grants the ECI sweeping powers to supervise and update electoral rolls, while Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, enables the Commission to order such an intensive revision whenever it finds the existing rolls are riddled with errors. The ECI has made it clear that the usual annual “Summary Revision” simply can’t fix the problems that have built up over the years. With major state elections looming in 2026, there’s a sense of urgency to create a voter list that’s not only transparent and accurate, but also legally defensible.
The SIR process itself is detailed and, for many, daunting. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are visiting households with pre-printed forms, asking voters to verify basic details—spelling, address, and the clarity of their photograph. This year, there’s a new twist: voters must now trace their name, or a parent or relative’s name, to the voter list from the last intensive revision. To help with this, the ECI has created an all-India database of these old rolls, available on its website voters.eci.gov.in. Citizens must enter specific details to check their “legacy linkage.”
For those worried about missing a visit, BLOs are required to make up to three attempts to reach every voter. If they haven’t shown up, the ECI advises citizens to check their Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) status online. The process is time-sensitive: if a voter’s name is missing from the draft rolls, they must file Form 6 between December 9, 2025, and January 8, 2026. Should a name be deleted, there’s a 15-day window to appeal—first to the District Magistrate, then to the Chief Electoral Officer if necessary.
Skipping this verification is not a trivial matter. The ECI has warned that failing to complete the process could result in exclusion from the final voter rolls—meaning the right to vote in the 2026 elections could be lost. In a democracy as populous and diverse as India’s, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
All of this groundwork sets the stage for Maharashtra’s local body elections, which kick off on December 2, 2025. The polls cover a staggering 246 municipal councils and 42 nagar panchayats in the first phase alone, with a multiphase process stretching until January 31, 2026, as directed by the Supreme Court. These elections aren’t just bureaucratic exercises—they’re the very foundation of local governance, deciding who will manage water supply, sanitation, public health, roads, and other essential services for millions of residents.
The numbers are impressive: the Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) reports that approximately 10.7 million voters are eligible to participate in the first phase—5.379 million men, 5.322 million women, and 775 transgender voters, reflecting a nearly balanced gender ratio. A total of 6,859 council member seats and 288 president posts are up for grabs, all to be decided using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Recognizing the importance of civic participation, the Maharashtra government has declared December 2 a paid holiday to facilitate voting. All workplaces under the Labour Department—including factories, shops, hotels, malls, IT companies, and more—must either grant a full day off or provide 2–3 hours of special leave for employees to cast their ballots. Essential services, which can’t afford a full shutdown, are still mandated to allow time off for voting.
Yet, the election process has not been without hiccups. In a late development, the SEC postponed elections in at least 20 municipal councils and nagar panchayats due to procedural irregularities and ongoing court cases. These postponed polls, which affect areas like Fursungi-Uruli Devachi in Pune, as well as municipalities in Marathwada, Thane, Chandrapur, Amaravati, Aurangabad, and even Baramati (the home turf of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar), have been rescheduled for December 20, 2025. The revised timeline sets December 10 as the last date for withdrawal of nominations, December 11 for the final candidate list and symbol allotment, with voting on December 20 from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. Results for these areas will be declared after December 21.
For the rest, counting for the first phase is set for December 3, 2025, with subsequent phases for zilla parishads, panchayat samitis, and municipal corporations rolling out in the weeks and months ahead. The SEC has activated the Model Code of Conduct, deployed thousands of polling officials and security personnel, and is closely coordinating with the ECI to ensure the integrity of the process.
Why do these elections matter so much? For many, they’re a litmus test of political sentiment following the BJP-led Mahayuti’s landslide victory in the November 2024 assembly elections. But beyond party politics, these polls are about the nuts and bolts of daily life—who decides how your street is cleaned, how your water reaches your tap, and how the local clinic is run. With new ward boundaries, updated voter lists, and the creation of new municipal units, the 2025 local body elections are a crucial test of both local leadership and public trust.
As the SIR and local body elections unfold side by side, Maharashtra’s citizens face a pivotal moment. The choices they make—and the diligence with which they verify their voter status—will shape not just the outcome of this election season, but the quality of governance for years to come. In a state where every vote truly counts, the message is clear: check your name, show up, and make your voice heard.
