Thiruvananthapuram: The Special Intensive Revision of the Electoral Roll (SIR), initially launched in Bihar, will now be implemented in Kerala and completed ahead of the Assembly elections. The revision will begin as soon as the Central Election Commission announces the schedule, Chief Electoral Officer Dr Rathan U Kelkar announced at a press conference.

The electoral roll will be revised based on the 2002 list and the process is expected to take three months. Individuals whose names appeared in the 2002 list are not required to submit any new documents. However, those who registered after 2002 and are listed in the 2025 roll must provide one of the documents specified by the commission. Aadhaar will also be accepted as one of the valid documents.

First-time registrants must also submit valid documents. Voters whose names appear on both lists will be required to fill out and submit an enumeration form. The updated voter list will be made available online, and provisions will be in place for adding new names, deleting existing ones, and transferring names to different locations. Political party representatives will be allowed to register a maximum of 50 voters each.

BLOs to visit homes

Applications for list updates can be submitted online. However, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit each household to verify the information. If a resident is unavailable at the time of the visit, a follow-up visit can be scheduled. As Aadhaar coverage is universal in Kerala, it will be a primary document used for verification. If additional documents are needed, relevant departments have been directed to provide them within 15 days.

For individuals from other states registering in Kerala, authorities will verify whether their names appear on the rolls in their home states. New voter ID cards will not be issued during this process, but corrections can be made. A meeting with political party representatives has been scheduled on September 20 to gather feedback.

A pilot comparison of the two lists conducted at two booths in the Mannarkkad constituency in Palakkad district revealed that 80% of voters from the 2002 list are also present in the 2025 list. Expatriates will also be given the opportunity to update their details. Complaints regarding the draft list can be submitted using Form 7 to BLOs, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), or through the mobile app. A district-level call centre will also be established for assistance.

Documents under consideration

Kerala will accept the same set of documents used in Bihar as proof of nativity. These include: identity cards issued by central or state governments to public sector employees and pensioners; any government, local body, bank, LIC, or PSU-issued ID card before July 1, 1987; birth certificate; passport; Class 10 or other educational certificates from recognised boards or universities; certificate of permanent residence from a competent authority; Forest Rights Act certificate; OBC/SC/ST or caste certificate; NRC record; family register prepared by the state or local bodies; and land or housing transfer certificates issued by the government. Aadhaar has also been added to this list.

2.78 crore voters in Kerala

As of September 8, the 2025 voter list includes 2,78,24,319 voters in Kerala. This comprises 1,34,35,048 men, 1,43,88,911 women, and 360 transgender persons. In comparison, the 2002 list recorded 2,24,98,941 voters, including 1,07,27,068 men and 1,17,71,872 women.

Aadhaar not valid for citizenship

While Aadhaar has been included as the twelfth identification document in the nationwide SIR process, the Chief Election Commissioner clarified that it should not be accepted as proof of citizenship. In a recent meeting with Chief Electoral Officers, the Commission stated that the Supreme Court has clearly ruled that Aadhaar is not valid for determining citizenship status.