Election Commission Revises Timeline for Uttar Pradesh Voter Roll Revision
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced significant revisions to the timeline for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh, extending key deadlines to accommodate greater public participation. This comprehensive update affects millions of voters in India's most populous state.
Revised Timeline and Key Dates
The eligibility date for the revised electoral rolls has been firmly set as 1 January 2026. This serves as the crucial cutoff point for determining voter eligibility across Uttar Pradesh's extensive electoral landscape.
The window for submitting claims and objections, which was originally scheduled to conclude on 6 February 2026, has now been extended by a full month. The new period for filing claims and objections will run from 6 January 2026 to 6 March 2026, providing voters with additional time to ensure their inclusion in the electoral database.
Consequently, the publication date for the final electoral roll has been pushed back from the originally planned 6 March 2026 to 10 April 2026. This extension allows election officials adequate time to process the anticipated surge in applications.
Background and Rationale for Extension
The decision to modify the timeline followed careful consideration of multiple factors, including a formal proposal submitted on 2 February 2026 and extensive consultations with political stakeholders. Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa confirmed that the extension was granted after several recognized national and state political parties requested additional time during a crucial meeting held on 27 January.
The Special Intensive Revision exercise commenced on 27 October of the previous year, with the draft electoral roll being published on 6 January 2026 after completion of the initial enumeration phase. The extension directly addresses the need for more comprehensive voter enrollment and verification processes.
Extended Deadlines for Administrative Processes
In addition to the main filing deadlines, the Election Commission has also extended several administrative timelines:
- The deadline for disposal of notices related to mapping discrepancies has been extended from 27 February to 27 March 2026
- Final resolution of such cases will now continue until 27 March 2026
- The ECI has directed that the revised schedule be officially notified in the State Gazette and widely publicized to ensure maximum awareness
Record Application Numbers Demonstrate Public Engagement
The revision exercise has witnessed unprecedented public participation, with application numbers reaching record levels:
- Between 27 October and 6 January: Approximately 16.18 lakh Form-6 applications (for inclusion of names) and 49,399 Form-7 applications (for deletion) were submitted
- From 6 January to 4 February: Over 37.8 lakh Form-6 applications were received
- Between 6 January and 5 February: 82,684 Form-7 applications were filed
- On 5 February alone: A remarkable 3,51,745 Form-6 applications were received, indicating a dramatic acceleration in submission rates
This substantial increase in application volume underscores the critical importance of the extended timeline, as election officials require additional processing capacity to handle the unprecedented influx of voter registration requests.
Forms and Procedures for Voters
The extended deadline provides voters with additional opportunities to utilize various electoral forms:
- Form 6: For inclusion of names in the electoral roll
- Form 7: For deletion of names from the electoral roll
- Applications for corrections or objections regarding existing entries
The Election Commission's directive, issued to the state's Chief Electoral Officer on Thursday, emphasizes the importance of thorough voter list preparation ahead of future electoral processes in Uttar Pradesh.
