The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Telangana began on June 25, 2026, with an initial draft roll listing 73.39 lakh electors in the Absent, Shifted, Dead or Duplicate (ASDD) category, a staggering 21.70% of the state’s electorate. As of September 28, election officials had conducted 58.97 million hearings, confirming eligibility for 45.54 lakh voters while still issuing 92.88 million notices for logical discrepancies and unmapped cases.
Despite the massive audit, 5.02 lakh notices remain unserved, threatening to leave thousands permanently off the roll if they do not respond. The Election Commission warns that failure to answer or complete verification could result in exclusion, a risk that has spurred widespread concern among voters awaiting confirmation.
Revanth Reddy, in a fiery address to the state, urged a nationwide 'SIR Go Back' movement, echoing the historical slogan 'Simon Go Back' and accusing the Election Commission of favouring the Prime Minister’s party. He slammed Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for unilateral decision‑making, calling the exercise a national democratic crisis.
In response, the Election Commission has extended the Telangana SIR schedule: claims and objections can now be filed until October 7, with disposal continuing until November 5. The final electoral rolls are slated for publication on November 9, 2026, a date that marks the culmination of the 10‑month audit.
In Hyderabad’s Shanti Nagar slum, a family of four, previously listed as duplicate, anxiously awaits the final roll. Their son, who was denied a voter ID last year, hopes the revisions will secure his right to vote in the upcoming assembly elections.