Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 25: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday announced that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls will soon be extended to all remaining states, marking a major step towards strengthening the accuracy and integrity of India’s voter database.
Speaking on the eve of the 16th National Voters’ Day, Kumar said the SIR initiative aims to ensure “pure electoral rolls” by including every eligible voter while removing ineligible names. He said the exercise has already been completed successfully in Bihar and is currently underway in 12 states and Union Territories.
Highlighting Bihar’s experience, the CEC said not a single appeal was filed against the final electoral roll, underscoring its sanctity and credibility. Elections held after the SIR in Bihar recorded a historic voter turnout of 67.13 per cent, the highest since 1951, while women voters registered an unprecedented participation rate of 71.78 per cent.
Kumar said 2025 has been a year of significant achievements and innovations for the Election Commission, with nearly 30 major initiatives undertaken. These included capacity-building programmes that trained over 5,000 Booth Level Officers and supervisors at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management in New Delhi.
Among other key initiatives, he mentioned the launch of the ECINet App to bring all elector services onto a single digital platform, the introduction of mobile deposit facilities at polling stations, and a decision to cap the maximum number of electors per polling station at 1,200 to enhance voter convenience.
The CEC also highlighted India’s growing global leadership in electoral management, noting that the country has been entrusted with the Chairship of International IDEA. From January 21 to 23, the Election Commission organised what it described as the world’s largest international conference on election management, attended by senior officials from election bodies in more than 70 countries.
Making a special appeal to young voters, Kumar urged them to counter misinformation and disinformation by staying informed about electoral processes. He announced that a dedicated youth-centric programme would be launched this year to help young citizens better understand the electoral system.
“The first step in the service of the nation is voting,” Kumar said, calling upon all citizens who have attained the age of 18 to enrol as electors and exercise their franchise.
The Election Commission of India was established on January 25, 1950, a day before Republic Day. National Voters’ Day has been observed annually since 2011 to mark the Commission’s foundation day and encourage youth participation in the democratic process.