Delhi SIR deadline extended to Oct 30 by ECI for claims and objections
Synopsis
The Election Commission of India has quietly but significantly relaxed the SIR process in Delhi — pushing the claims deadline a full month to 30 October, allowing online hearings, and directing BLOs to collect documents at voters' homes. With SIR still pending in 12 states, the final national voter count remains unknown.
Key Takeaways
The ECI extended Delhi's SIR claims and objections deadline from 30 September to 30 October 2026 .
The deadline for disposal of notices and claims in Delhi is now 30 November 2026 .
Electors flagged for discrepancies may attend hearings online ; BLOs will visit homes to collect documents.
In Maharashtra , the claims deadline was extended to 12 October 2026 , with disposal by 10 November 2026 .
SIR has been completed in 20 States and UTs ; the final elector count awaits Phase III publication in 12 remaining States .
The nationwide SIR order of 24 June 2025 has been upheld by the Supreme Court .
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday, 26 September 2026, extended the deadline for Delhi electors to file claims and objections under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by one month — from 30 September to 30 October 2026. The last date for disposal of notices, claims, and objections has been fixed at 30 November 2026.
What Changed and Why
The extension was granted following a formal request from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Delhi. Electors whose names were missing from the draft electoral roll were earlier required to file Form-6 along with supporting documents by 30 September. The revised timeline gives such voters an additional month to complete the process.
The decision was announced after a meeting at Nirvachan Sadan, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and attended by Election Commissioners S.S. Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
Online Hearings and Home Visits for Affected Electors
In a significant procedural relaxation, the ECI has allowed electors who have received SIR notices — particularly those flagged for being unmapped or having logical discrepancies — to attend hearings before election officials through online mode rather than appearing physically at Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant ERO offices.
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit the homes of such persons to collect documents and upload them on ECINet for decision by the ERO. The ECI said: Only in exceptional circumstances, as decided by the ERO, the hearing will be held preferably online. Any adult member of the family can be authorised by the elector to attend the hearing on their behalf, if required.
District Election Officers (DEOs) have been directed to set up adequate help desks and hold special camps for people living in night shelters, labourers, the poor, and the homeless.
Maharashtra Deadline Also Extended
The same meeting extended the SIR claims-filing deadline in Maharashtra to 12 October 2026, up from the earlier cut-off of 3 October. The deadline for disposal of claims and objections in Maharashtra has been pushed to 10 November 2026.
National Status of SIR
According to the ECI, the SIR has already been completed in 20 States and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal. The original order for nationwide SIR was issued on 24 June 2025 and was subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court. Schedules for 12 States and UTs were issued on 27 October 2025, followed by schedules for 19 States and UTs on 14 May 2026, both with unanimous Commission approval.
The final elector count will be known only after the publication of the electoral roll for the remaining 12 States in Phase III. Any eligible citizen, including first-time voters, may apply to the concerned ERO for inclusion under the continuous updation process.
Point of View
Particularly for migrant workers and homeless populations. Yet the bigger question is whether the continuous extensions dilute the credibility of the SIR's eventual outcome. With 12 states still in Phase III and the Supreme Court's scrutiny on record, the Commission must balance thoroughness with timely finality.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new deadline for filing SIR claims in Delhi?
The ECI has extended the deadline for Delhi electors to file SIR-related claims and objections to 30 October 2026, a one-month extension from the earlier cut-off of 30 September. The deadline for disposal of all notices, claims, and objections is 30 November 2026.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a nationwide exercise ordered by the Election Commission of India on 24 June 2025 to update and clean up electoral rolls across all States and Union Territories. It involves verifying and correcting elector data, mapping residences, and removing duplicate or erroneous entries.
Do electors have to appear physically for SIR hearings?
No. The ECI has now allowed electors who have received SIR notices to attend hearings through online mode. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will also visit their homes to collect documents, which will then be uploaded on ECINet for ERO decision.
Has the SIR deadline been extended in Maharashtra as well?
Yes. The ECI also extended Maharashtra's SIR claims deadline to 12 October 2026, up from the earlier 3 October cut-off. The deadline for disposal of claims and objections in Maharashtra is now 10 November 2026.
Which states have completed the SIR process so far?
According to the ECI, SIR has been completed in 20 States and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal. The final national elector count will only be known after the electoral roll is published for the remaining 12 states in Phase III.
