The issue of electoral roll accuracy has gained renewed attention in 2025. Allegations of voter list fraud, notably in Mahadevapura, have sparked intense public debate. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has promoted the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) as a solution. However, critical voices question the effectiveness and legality of SIR, denoting risks of disenfranchisement and flawed execution.
Current Electoral Roll Challenges
India’s electoral rolls are extensive but suffer from accuracy problems. Urban areas face persistent errors of omission and commission. Routine updates and annual Summary Revisions have failed to fully address these issues. These processes rely heavily on proactive citizens and limited field verification. Consequently, errors accumulate over time, affecting voter confidence and electoral integrity.
Concept of Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
SIR is promoted as a thorough house-to-house enumeration exercise conducted every five years. It aims to authenticate voter additions, deletions, and corrections. The CEC argues that SIR will clean the electoral rolls and prevent fraud. However, critics note that the current SIR model diverges from the original legislative intent and includes problematic new requirements.
Legal and Procedural Concerns with SIR
Two unprecedented features of SIR raise legal and ethical issues. First, it shifts the onus of voter registration from the state to the individual by mandating all potential voters to fill out enumeration forms. Second, it requires documentary proof of eligibility, undermining the presumption of citizenship. Both conditions risk excluding vulnerable groups such as the poor, migrants, minorities, women, and the uneducated.
Consequences of SIR Implementation
The execution of SIR, especially in Bihar, has led to massive deletions from the voter list with negligible additions. Between June and July 2025, over 65 lakh names were removed without corresponding inclusions. This imbalance suggests SIR is functioning as an intensive deletion rather than a revision. Poor adherence to protocols for verifying voter status further aggravates disenfranchisement.
Recommendations for Electoral Roll Improvement
A genuine intensive revision should ensure balanced attention to both additions and deletions. It must follow established legal safeguards like notice, hearing, and appeal before removing voters. Independent audits of electoral roll accuracy are essential but currently absent. Agencies such as the National Sample Survey Organisation could conduct sample checks. Additionally, impartial investigations into fraud allegations should be instituted, avoiding conflicts of interest.
Political and Public Discourse on Electoral Integrity
The debate around SIR reflects broader tensions in Indian democracy. Political actors use the controversy to challenge each other’s credibility. The politician’s syllogism fallacy—assuming any action is the right action without proof—is evident. Public trust depends on transparent, fair, and legally sound electoral processes rather than quick fixes or political rhetoric.
Questions for UPSC:
- Critically analyse the challenges faced in maintaining accurate electoral rolls in a democracy like India. What measures can strengthen electoral integrity?
- Comment on the role of legal safeguards in voter registration processes. How do documentary requirements impact voter inclusion in diverse societies?
- Explain the concept of politician’s syllogism and its implications for policy-making and public trust. Illustrate with examples from electoral reforms.
- What are the advantages and limitations of independent audits in public administration? How can such audits improve electoral roll accuracy and accountability?
