Kerala to undergo Special Intensive Revision of voter list ahead of 2026 assembly elections

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ahead of the assembly elections next year, an intensive voter list revision will be implemented in Kerala, similar to the one recently conducted in Bihar. This Special Intensive Revision (SIR) will completely replace the existing electoral roll. However, the current voter ID cards will remain valid and can continue to be used once names are included in the revised list.

The last time SIR was conducted in Kerala was in 2002, and that list will serve as the base document. All voters who were added to the rolls during subsequent Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will now be required to verify their names using one of 12 approved documents, such as Aadhaar, when booth-level officers (BLOs) visit their homes. For those whose names appeared in the 2002 list, confirmation forms will be sent online or collected directly by BLOs with signatures—no new documents are required.

To add a new name, citizenship proof will be mandatory. The documents of migrant workers will be closely scrutinised to ensure they do not hold voting rights in their home states. The entire process will be completed within three months.

• Number of voters in 2002 voters’ list: 2,24,98,941
• Number of voters in the current voters’ list: 2,78,24,319

Meeting with political parties on September 20
September 15: Digital comparison of 2002 and current voters’ lists. The report will be handed over to BLOs.
September 19: BLOs to complete booth-level comparison of both lists.
September 20: The State Election Commission will hold a meeting with political parties.

As a trial, SIR was conducted in booths 32 and 9 of the Mannarkkad Assembly constituency, where 80% of the 2002 voters were still present in the list.

If your name is missing in the draft roll, you must apply again.

• Confirmation forms will be sent to all 2002 voters.
• Voters listed in 2025 rolls must show documents for verification.
• Draft rolls will be published, and those not included must reapply.

Accepted documents for name inclusion: Passport, Birth Certificate, National Register of Citizens, Residence Certificate, Caste Certificate, SSLC Book, Pension Order, Land Ownership Record, Employment Record in Govt/PSU, Family Certificate from local body, Forest Rights Document, Aadhaar.

“No eligible voter will be excluded from the list,” said Dr. Rathan U. Kelkar, Chief Electoral Officer.