Context:
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) undertook a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025 of electoral rolls in select states to address concerns regarding accuracy, duplication, and outdated voter data.
- The exercise has triggered debates on electoral integrity versus potential disenfranchisement, engaging constitutional, legal, and governance dimensions under GS 2 (Polity & Governance) and Prelims.
Key Highlights:
Nature and Scope of SIR 2025
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) involves rebuilding electoral rolls from scratch, unlike summary revisions, which make incremental updates.
- Conducted through door-to-door verification and digitisation of documents.
- Aimed at correcting errors arising from rapid migration, urban expansion, and high residential mobility.
Findings from Bihar
- Over 7.5 crore voter entries verified.
- About 65 lakh electors removed from the draft electoral roll.
- Only 36,500 claims for inclusion received, and no appeals filed against deletions, suggesting procedural safeguards and scrutiny.
Procedural Safeguards and Transparency
- Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of recognised political parties were trained and involved.
- Political parties were engaged and provided access to electoral rolls.
- Supreme Court deputed volunteers to assist citizens in filing claims, objections, and corrections online.
Documentation and Citizenship Proof
- ECI expanded the list of acceptable documents for proof of citizenship to 11 items.
- Aadhaar card accepted as proof of identity, not citizenship.
Constitutional Authority of ECI
- Power flows from Article 324 of the Constitution, granting ECI superintendence, direction, and control over preparation of electoral rolls.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue: Ensuring accurate electoral rolls while safeguarding universal adult franchise.
- Causes of Inaccuracy:
- Migration
- Urbanisation
- Duplicate entries
- Deaths and outdated records
- Government / Constitutional Mechanism:
- Election Commission of India (Article 324)
- Representation of the People Act, 1950
- Benefits:
- Cleaner rolls
- Reduced impersonation and electoral fraud
- Strengthened electoral credibility
- Challenges:
- Risk of inadvertent disenfranchisement
- Digital divide affecting vulnerable groups
- Impact:
- Direct implications for free and fair elections and democratic legitimacy
Relevant Mains Points:
- Key Definitions:
- Electoral Roll: Official list of eligible voters.
- Universal Adult Franchise: Right of all adult citizens to vote.
- Disenfranchisement: Removal or denial of voting rights.
- Static Linkages:
- Article 326 – Elections based on adult suffrage.
- Article 324 – Powers of ECI.
- Critical Analysis:
- SIR strengthens electoral integrity but must ensure procedural fairness and inclusion.
- Absence of appeals may reflect awareness gaps among marginalized voters.
- Ethical Dimensions:
- Balance between efficiency and equity.
- Protection of democratic rights and dignity of voters.
- Way Forward:
- Enhanced voter awareness campaigns.
- Strong grievance redress mechanisms.
- Independent audits of large-scale deletions.
- Use of technology with human oversight to prevent exclusion.
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
- GS 2: Polity, Electoral Reforms, Governance
- Prelims: Constitutional provisions, ECI powers, electoral processes