Maharashtra SIR 2026: 1.22 Crore Voters to Receive Notices — What You Should Do

Quick take: Maharashtra's SIR process has identified 1,22,24,007 electors whose records require additional verification. The figure comprises 62,48,281 electors with logical discrepancies and 59,75,726 whose records could not be mapped to a relative in the previous electoral rolls. (The Indian Express)

Being in this flagged group does not by itself mean that your name has been declared ineligible or automatically deleted. The notice process gives the elector an opportunity to provide documents and, where required, participate in verification/hearing. (The Indian Express)

Maharashtra's official CEO website currently provides SIR resources including the draft-roll search, SIR FAQs, prescribed documents, AC-wise help desks and the revised schedule. (Chief Electoral Officer Maharashtra)

Why Are 1.22 Crore Electors Getting Notices?

The flagged population falls into two broad groups:

CategoryElectorsLogical discrepancies62,48,281Unmapped to a relative in previous SIR records59,75,726Total1,22,24,007

A logical discrepancy can involve inconsistencies in the information used for mapping or verification.

An unmapped record means the election machinery could not establish the relevant mapping to the previous SIR-linked electoral-roll information.

These categories are useful shorthand, but your actual notice and the instructions issued by the election authorities take priority.

A Notice Does Not Automatically Mean Deletion

This is the most important point.

Receiving a notice does not itself mean:

"Your voter registration has been cancelled."

The purpose of the notice is to seek additional verification/documentation where the electoral record has been flagged.

The Indian Express reported that these voters remain in the draft roll and can respond with documents or appear for a hearing before a final decision on their inclusion. (The Indian Express)

So don't ignore the notice.

But don't panic either.

Think of it as:

Flagged record

Notice

Documents/clarification

Verification/hearing where required

Decision

Who Is in the Flagged Group?

The two broad categories have different practical implications.

Unmapped

The electoral system could not cleanly map the elector to the relevant previous SIR-linked record.

Your response may therefore need documents establishing the facts relevant to your electoral record.

Logical discrepancy

There is some inconsistency in the information used for the mapping/verification exercise.

Reporting has described examples involving differences in names, ages or other relative-related details. (The Indian Express)

Don't try to diagnose the technical flag from the blog alone.

Read your notice first.

What Should You Do When the Notice Arrives?

Use this sequence.

1. Read the entire notice

Look for:

  • Your name
  • EPIC details
  • Assembly Constituency
  • Booth/polling information
  • Reason for notice
  • Documents requested
  • Submission method
  • Hearing details, if any
  • Deadline

2. Check your electoral record

Use the official ECI voter-services portal:

ECI Voters' Services Portal

The Maharashtra CEO website also currently provides a dedicated Search your name in Draft E-Roll of SIR-2026 facility. (Chief Electoral Officer Maharashtra)

3. Prepare the relevant documents

Don't upload everything you own.

Use the documents that actually establish the information the notice asks you to verify.

4. Submit through the instructed channel

Follow the method specified in your notice or by the election authorities.

5. Keep proof

Save:

  • Uploaded files
  • Acknowledgement
  • Reference number
  • Screenshots
  • Notice
  • Hearing details
What Documents Should You Prepare?

The ECI/Maharashtra SIR process provides a prescribed-document framework.

Depending on your case, relevant evidence can include documents relating to:

  • Date of birth
  • Identity
  • Residence
  • Family/relative details
  • Previous electoral-roll linkage

Maharashtra's official SIR resources include the ECI Prescribed Documents and SIR instructions. (Chief Electoral Officer Maharashtra)

One Maharashtra government SIR guide lists examples including birth certificate, passport, Class 10 certificate, residence certificate, caste certificate, government identity documents, family register, government land/house allotment documents, Forest Rights records, bank/post-office identity documents and Aadhaar, among others. (Pune District)

You don't necessarily need every document on the list.

Use the documents relevant to your particular notice.

Online Document Upload: Don't Make a Simple Mistake

If your notice provides an online submission option, prepare clean digital copies.

Good upload

  • Clear scan/photo
  • Entire relevant page visible
  • Text readable
  • Correct document
  • Correct file attached to the application

Bad upload

  • Blurry photograph
  • Document partly cut off
  • Heavy glare
  • Wrong person's document
  • Multiple unrelated files
  • Screenshot where the actual document is required

Before pressing submit:

Open the uploaded file and read it yourself.

If you can't read it, don't assume the reviewing officer can.

What About WhatsApp Submission?

Current reporting says Maharashtra's notice process includes electronic options, including document submission/response through WhatsApp-style channels, alongside online facilities. (News Minimalist)

But don't send documents to a random number forwarded in a neighbourhood WhatsApp group.

Use only the number/channel identified by the official notice or election authority.

Before sending anything, check:

  • Is the number in the official notice?
  • Does the message identify the election authority?
  • Is the submission instruction consistent with the official SIR process?

Never send Aadhaar, EPIC or other sensitive documents to an unverified number.

What If You're a "Marked Elector"?

Reporting says Maharashtra is giving priority to contacting certain marked electors, including categories such as members of the judiciary, public representatives and prominent people from fields including journalism, arts, culture, sports and public service. (News Minimalist)

If you're contacted under this process, don't interpret that as an exemption from verification.

The practical response remains:

Read the communication → provide the requested documents → follow the stated process.

Do You Need to Attend a Hearing?

Not every case necessarily ends with the same physical process.

If the election authorities ask you to attend a hearing, attend it.

If your documents are accepted through the applicable electronic process, the subsequent procedure may differ.

The important rule:

Don't assume an online upload automatically means you can ignore a later hearing notice.

If you receive a specific hearing notice, follow it.

Maharashtra SIR Timeline

Maharashtra's current SIR schedule needs particular care because different documents published during the exercise can show different dates.

The Maharashtra CEO site currently lists a revised SIR schedule, while the district Pune government page states:

  • Draft publication: 31 August 2026
  • Claims/objections: 31 August–30 September 2026
  • Notice phase/disposal: 31 August–29 October 2026
  • Final publication: 4 November 2026 (Pune District)

The Maharashtra CEO site also has a Revised Schedule – SIR 2026 section. (Chief Electoral Officer Maharashtra)

Your rule

Don't rely on an old social-media graphic.

Check:

Your notice + latest Maharashtra CEO schedule

especially if you're close to a deadline.

Don't Confuse a Notice With a Claim/Objection

These are related but not identical processes.

You may be:

  • Responding to a notice
  • Filing a claim
  • Filing an objection
  • Correcting an electoral-roll entry
  • Responding to a hearing

Read the exact instruction applicable to your case.

If you're unsure, contact the relevant ERO/AERO/BLO or SIR help desk rather than filing multiple unrelated applications.

The Maharashtra CEO site currently provides AC-wise SIR help-desk details. (Chief Electoral Officer Maharashtra)

What If Your Name Is Already in the Draft Roll?

Don't assume:

"My name is there, so I don't need to respond."

The reported Maharashtra process specifically includes electors who appear in the draft roll but may still receive notices for additional verification. (The Indian Express)

If you receive a notice, respond according to that notice even if you can already find your name in the draft roll.

Greater Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur: Make It a Family Exercise

If several family members live at the same address, don't check only the person who received the first SMS.

Create a simple table:

Family memberEPICDraft roll checkedNotice receivedDocuments readyActionParentXXXXX✓Yes✓SubmitSpouseXXXXX✓No—MonitorAdult childXXXXX✓Yes✓Check noticeGrandparentXXXXX✓Yes✓Hearing

This prevents the classic problem:

"We thought someone else in the family had already done it."
What to Carry to a Hearing

If you're called for physical verification, take:

  • Original notice
  • EPIC/voter details
  • Originals of relevant documents
  • Copies where useful
  • Submission acknowledgement
  • Reference number
  • Any previous correspondence
  • Mobile phone containing relevant confirmation/SMS

Keep originals with you and don't surrender them unless the authorised procedure specifically requires it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Ignoring the notice

A notice is an opportunity to respond.

❌ Assuming "flagged" means "deleted"

It doesn't automatically mean that.

❌ Uploading every document you own

Submit relevant evidence.

❌ Sending documents to an unofficial WhatsApp number

Verify the channel first.

❌ Waiting until the final day

Technical problems and queues are avoidable risks.

❌ Ignoring a hearing notice after uploading documents

Follow the latest official instruction.

❌ Relying on a neighbour's interpretation

Your notice controls your individual response.

Unmapped vs Logical Discrepancy: A Simple Way to Think About It

Unmapped

"The system couldn't establish the expected previous-roll linkage."

Focus on evidence that helps establish the relevant continuity/identity facts.

Logical discrepancy

"The information used for the linkage contains an inconsistency."

Focus on documents that address the particular inconsistency identified.

But this is only a citizen-friendly explanation.

The exact reason written in your notice is more important than these shorthand definitions.

Your Maharashtra SIR Notice Checklist

When you receive the notice

  • ☐ Read the reason
  • ☐ Check your EPIC details
  • ☐ Check the deadline
  • ☐ Identify the required documents
  • ☐ Check the submission method

Before submission

  • ☐ Scan/photograph documents clearly
  • ☐ Use only the relevant documents
  • ☐ Verify the official submission channel
  • ☐ Keep copies of everything

After submission

  • ☐ Save acknowledgement/reference number
  • ☐ Track the status
  • ☐ Keep your phone available for official communication
  • ☐ Attend a hearing if instructed

Before the final roll

  • ☐ Search your electoral-roll entry again
  • ☐ Check the final decision
  • ☐ Download/update your e-EPIC where appropriate
How NetaSampark Helps

SIR is an Election Commission process, so the actual verification, document submission and decision must happen through the official electoral system.

But citizens still need to know:

Who is my BLO?

Who is my ERO/AERO?

Who represents my area?

Where do I escalate a civic problem while dealing with the electoral process?

NetaSampark can help you find the relevant representative information and understand the civic side of the process.

For your SIR case itself, however, follow the official notice and Maharashtra CEO/ECI instructions.

Be Informed. Be Heard.

Official resources

Current Maharashtra sources support the 1,22,24,007 flagged-elector figure and the 62,48,281/59,75,726 split. The current district-level schedule available from Maharashtra government sources gives 31 August–30 September for claims/objections, notice/disposal through 29 October, and final publication on 4 November. Use the latest Maharashtra CEO schedule and your individual notice if they differ. (The Indian Express)