Approximately 2.73 crore voters between the ages of 18 and 28 have been enrolled on electoral rolls through the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) programme launched in 2025, according to officials from the body. This figure has emerged alongside accounts that youth voter registration may have stalled, with the periodic Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls reportedly left unconducted. Election commission representatives rejected that description, noting that voter rolls are kept under ongoing review and that residents who meet eligibility requirements may seek registration at any time, not only during scheduled annual updates. The 2.73 crore total encompasses electors aged 18 to 28, spanning both those casting ballots for the first time and younger individuals who had already qualified but were subsequently enrolled or had their details revised on the voter lists; under the 2021 amendment to Section 14 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, read alongside Section 19 of the same legislation, any individual whose name does not appear on the rolls, or who turns 18 on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July, or 1 October, may register as a voter at any point through the ongoing updation process, without being required to wait for a scheduled revision. Under Section 21(3) of the RP Act, 1950, both the Special Summary Revision and the Special Intensive Revision processes are discretionary in nature. The officials noted that no statutory obligation exists to conduct the two together. An amendment to Section 14(b) of the Representation of the People Act established the four qualifying dates. A qualified individual who turns 18 on any of the four specified dates may lodge an advance registration through Form 6. Claims are assessed during the calendar quarter in which an individual reaches the eligible age threshold. Voter rolls remain open for ongoing updates following their formal release, the Election Commission noted, meaning qualified residents can enrol at any point rather than waiting for a scheduled revision cycle. Voter registration requires completion of the designated Form 6 application. The registration process has taken place concurrently with a series of electoral contests. Polling took place in Bihar in November 2025 following the completion of the SIR process, with the updated voter list recording more than 7.45 crore registered electors. Voting took place across Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Puducherry, with electoral registers updated prior to the contests. According to the electoral body, special intensive revision, summary revision, and continuous updating are treated as distinct and separate procedures. According to officials, approximately 2.73 crore new registrations were recorded among voters aged 18 to 28 throughout the SIR period, reflecting continued youth enrolment activity.
