Voter List Revision: Aadhaar Not Proof of Citizenship but Valid ID for SIR: CEC
Voter List Revision: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has clarified that while the Aadhaar card cannot be used as proof of citizenship, it remains a valid document for identity verification during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Monday, he referred to the Supreme Court’s ruling that Aadhaar usage must comply with the Aadhaar Act.
Voter List Revision: Aadhaar Valid for Identity, Not Citizenship
The CEC stated, “As far as the Aadhaar Card is concerned, the Supreme Court has said that Aadhaar is to be used as per the Aadhaar Act. Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act specifies that Aadhaar will not be proof of domicile or citizenship.” He further noted that the Supreme Court has repeatedly clarified that Aadhaar cannot be treated as proof of date of birth. The Aadhaar authority, in line with these rulings, has also issued a notification specifying that new Aadhaar cards clearly mention they are not proof of birth, domicile, or citizenship. “Aadhaar is an identity document and can be used for e-signing,” CEC Gyanesh Kumar added.
Second Phase of SIR to Begin in 12 States and UTs
The Election Commission is set to launch the second phase of the voter list revision under the Special Intensive Revision exercise across 12 states and Union Territories — Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. Among these, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, and West Bengal are due for Assembly elections in 2026. The CEC clarified that Assam, which also goes to polls in 2026, will have a separate voter roll revision due to its distinct registration framework.
Timeline and Key Details of the Voter List Revision
CEC Gyanesh Kumar announced that the second phase of the SIR will cover approximately 51 crore voters. The enumeration process will begin on November 4, with the draft rolls set for publication on December 9 and the final rolls on February 7, 2026. Kumar added that the SIR is designed to ensure “no eligible voter is left out and no ineligible voter is included.” The exercise follows the successful completion of the first phase in Bihar, where voter list clean-up saw no appeals and the final list, containing 7.42 crore electors, was published on September 30. Bihar is now set to vote in two phases on November 6 and 11, with counting on November 14.
Coordination and Preparations for Smooth Implementation
To ensure effective execution of the voter list revision, the Election Commission has already held two national conferences with Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) to finalise the SIR roadmap. Several states have begun uploading updated voter lists on their official websites, continuing the Commission’s push for transparency and accessibility. Kumar highlighted that the ongoing exercise marks the ninth nationwide SIR since Independence, with the previous one conducted between 2002 and 2004.
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