Electoral roll SIR Phase III: BLO house visits begin in Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim, Manipur
Synopsis
The Election Commission has launched SIR Phase III enumeration in four northeastern and eastern states — Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Manipur — covering over 4.68 crore voters. With BLOs going door-to-door and political party agents now formally looped in, the 28 June deadline will test whether India's most granular voter-verification exercise can match its ambition.
Key Takeaways
The ECI launched SIR Phase III enumeration in Odisha , Mizoram , Sikkim , and Manipur from 31 May 2026 .
Enumeration Forms must reach the ERO by 28 June 2026 for inclusion in the Draft Electoral Rolls.
Odisha has the largest electorate at 3.34 crore , backed by 38,123 BLOs ; Manipur has 20.92 lakh electors and 2,996 BLOs .
BLAs of recognised political parties may collect up to 50 forms per day and hand them to BLOs before Draft Publication.
The SIR covers 16 states and 3 UTs in total, ordered by ECI on 14 May 2026 under Article 324 of the Constitution.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Sunday, 1 June 2026 that the enumeration phase under Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Phase III has commenced in Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Manipur, with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) conducting door-to-door visits to distribute and collect Enumeration Forms. The phase began on Saturday, 31 May 2026, and covers a combined electorate of over 4.68 crore voters across the four states.
Key Developments
All eligible electors whose Enumeration Forms are received by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) on or before 28 June 2026 will be included in the Draft Electoral Rolls. Electors unable to submit by that deadline may apply through Form-6, along with a prescribed Declaration Form, during the subsequent claims and objections period.
The ECI confirmed that forms may be submitted either through the BLO in person or online, giving electors a dual-channel option to ensure maximum participation.
Role of BLOs and Political Party Agents
During house-to-house visits, BLOs are required to carry a minimum of 30 blank Form-6s and blank Declaration Forms to supply to anyone seeking fresh enrolment as a new elector. To broaden coverage, the Commission has also permitted Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of recognised political parties to collect up to 50 forms per day from the public and hand them over to the BLO before Draft Publication.
National and state-recognised political parties are entitled to appoint additional BLAs to assist BLOs in the smooth conduct of the SIR process, the ECI noted.
State-wise Electorate and Official Strength
The scale of the exercise varies significantly across the four states. Odisha — the largest among them — has 3.34 crore electors, supported by 38,123 BLOs and 8,391 BLAs. Manipur has 20.92 lakh electors, 2,996 BLOs, and 5,003 BLAs. Mizoram has 8.75 lakh voters, 1,353 BLOs, and 3,430 BLAs. Sikkim has 4.71 lakh electors, 572 BLOs, and 681 BLAs.
Legal Basis and Broader SIR Rollout
The ECI ordered the SIR exercise on 14 May 2026, invoking its powers under Article 324 of the Constitution of India and Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. The revision covers 16 states and 3 Union Territories (UTs) in total. The Commission has stated that the core objective of SIR is ensuring that 'no eligible citizen is left out while no ineligible person is included in the Electoral Roll.'
Every Indian citizen aged 18 years or above on the qualifying date, and not otherwise disqualified under law, is entitled to be registered, the ECI reiterated, urging electors to cooperate with officials during house-to-house visits.
Point of View
And its expansion to 16 states and 3 UTs in a single phase signals a pre-election urgency that warrants scrutiny. Looping in political party BLAs — up to 50 forms per agent per day — is a pragmatic move for coverage, but it also introduces a partisan layer into what should be a neutral administrative process. The deadline of 28 June is tight for states like Manipur, where ongoing security sensitivities could hamper house-to-house access. Whether the Commission publishes state-wise inclusion and exclusion data after Draft Publication will be the real test of transparency.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SIR Phase III and which states are covered?
Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Phase III is an ECI-led exercise to update electoral rolls through door-to-door enumeration. Phase III covers Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Manipur, and began on 31 May 2026.
What is the deadline to submit the Enumeration Form?
The deadline is 28 June 2026. Forms received by the Electoral Registration Officer on or before that date will be included in the Draft Electoral Rolls. Those who miss the deadline may apply via Form-6 during the claims and objections period.
What role do Booth Level Officers play in SIR?
BLOs conduct house-to-house visits to distribute, collect, and verify Enumeration Forms. They are required to carry at least 30 blank Form-6s during visits to enrol new electors on the spot.
Can political parties participate in the SIR enumeration process?
Yes. The ECI has allowed Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of recognised political parties to collect up to 50 forms per day from the public and hand them to BLOs before Draft Publication. Parties may appoint additional BLAs to improve coverage.
How many electors are covered in the four states under Phase III?
Odisha has 3.34 crore electors, Manipur has 20.92 lakh, Mizoram has 8.75 lakh, and Sikkim has 4.71 lakh — totalling over 4.68 crore voters across the four states.
