The EC had announced the SIR for nine states, including Kerala, and three Union Territories on October 27. As per the initial schedule, the enumeration phase was supposed to end on December 4, but the EC on November 30 extended the schedule by one week. The Kerala government had moved the Supreme Court seeking deferment of the SIR as local body elections were ongoing in the state. The court on Tuesday permitted the state to submit a request-cum-proposal to the EC explaining why the enumeration phase should be extended by one week.

The EC met the Chief Secretary and Chief Electoral Officer of the state on Friday. As per the extension order passed on Friday, the CEO informed the EC that over 95% of the enumeration forms had been digitised so far and the remaining were expected to be done before December 11. The Chief Secretary said political party workers were involved in the ongoing local body elections and could not be deployed for SIR-related activities. The Chief Secretary sought a one-week extension for the enumeration phase.

“The Commission, after carefully taking due note of the submission made by the Chief Secretary and Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala has decided to revise the SIR schedule for the State of Kerala by extending the relevant dates by one week,” the order says.

The EC had ordered an SIR for the whole country on June 24, starting with Bihar as Assembly elections were due. As per the June 24 order, all registered electors have to submit new enumeration forms in the one-month enumeration phase to remain on the draft roll and certain categories of electors have to submit additional documents to prove eligibility, including citizenship.