Reference Article: The Hindu
UPSC Relevance:
– GS Paper II: Role of Election Commission of India (ECI), Governance — Electoral Reforms and Democratic Institutions
– GS Paper I: Population and Society — Migration and Demographic Shifts
– Essay Paper: Electoral Integrity and Inclusive Democracy
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 12 States and Union Territories, following its earlier exercise in Bihar. The stated objective is to update the voter rolls by addressing issues such as migration, deceased voters, and inaccuracies — concerns highlighted by several political parties, particularly the Indian National Congress.
However, the Bihar experience revealed structural flaws that raise concerns over the risk of disenfranchisement, especially among young and female voters. The revision process, though aimed at accuracy, may unintentionally undermine universal suffrage, a cornerstone of India’s democracy.
Lessons from Bihar’s Experience
In Bihar, the SIR was conducted within a compressed timeline — approximately one month for enumeration and another for claims and objections. Although the new model introduces a 54-day “notice period” for hearing and verification, the Bihar experience exposed major inconsistencies in voter data.
Key findings included:
- A sharp decline in the gender ratio from 907 to 892 women per 1,000 men, far below Bihar’s demographic norms.
- Disproportionate exclusion of women in constituencies where female turnout exceeded male participation during the 2024 general elections.
- The most affected group was the 18–29 age bracket, often marked as “permanently shifted” even when they were “ordinarily resident” as per electoral law.
These distortions point to procedural and structural lapses in verification and inclusion mechanisms.
Systemic Issues in the Verification Framework
The onus of verification in the SIR framework falls heavily on citizens and party representatives, particularly Booth Level Agents (BLAs), rather than Booth Level Officers (BLOs). This reliance on politically affiliated actors introduces bias and inconsistency, as political parties focus on competitive advantage, not necessarily on ensuring comprehensive inclusion.
The ECI’s response — that excluded voters can re-register with BLA assistance — has been criticized as insufficient and reactive. It places the burden of correction on individuals who may not have the time, resources, or awareness to navigate the process.
Following Supreme Court intervention, the ECI was compelled to publish lists of excluded voters with reasons, enabling limited rectification. Yet, the same model is now being scaled up nationwide, amplifying concerns about replicating the Bihar anomalies on a larger scale.
Implementation Challenges and Risks
While the ECI has instructed BLOs to make three home visits to verify residents, this measure may still fail to capture temporary migrants who remain legally “ordinarily resident.” Such individuals — including students, seasonal laborers, and women temporarily residing elsewhere — face a high risk of wrongful exclusion.
The option for online enumeration is a step toward modernization but does not adequately address the digital divide and literacy barriers prevalent in several States. Many rural and low-income voters lack consistent internet access or the digital literacy needed to fill enumeration forms independently.
Consequently, the revision risks creating a digital and procedural bias, excluding precisely those who are already marginalized in the democratic process.
Concerns for Democratic Integrity
The ongoing SIR underscores a deeper question about the balance between accuracy and inclusion in India’s electoral process. While maintaining clean rolls is essential to prevent fraud and duplication, an overzealous approach that prioritizes deletion over inclusion can undermine the integrity of elections.
The process also tests the ECI’s commitment to its constitutional mandate of ensuring free and fair elections, beyond mere procedural compliance. The perceived opacity and hurried nature of the revision may erode public trust in electoral institutions, which form the bedrock of India’s democratic legitimacy.
Way Forward
- Inclusive Verification Mechanisms: Ensure BLO-led verification with clear accountability, supplemented by neutral civil society observers.
- Extended Timelines: Provide adequate time for enumeration and claim processes, particularly in migrant-heavy regions.
- Transparency and Oversight: Regular publication of inclusion and exclusion data with disaggregated demographics to identify bias early.
- Bridging the Digital Divide: Combine online mechanisms with accessible offline support at polling stations and community centers.
- Civic Engagement: Encourage the involvement of local media, NGOs, and citizen groups to ensure informed participation and scrutiny.
Analytical Perspective
The SIR exercise reflects the tension between administrative efficiency and democratic inclusivity. While digitization and rationalization of voter rolls are essential to maintaining credible elections, they must not come at the cost of excluding vulnerable voters.
India’s electoral strength lies in its inclusiveness — the ability of even the most marginalized citizen to exercise their franchise. Any system that weakens this inclusivity, even unintentionally, compromises the moral legitimacy of electoral democracy.
Conclusion
The ECI’s Special Intensive Revision marks a critical juncture in India’s electoral administration. The lessons from Bihar demonstrate that accuracy without empathy can lead to administrative disenfranchisement. As the process unfolds across more States, vigilance from civil society, the media, and political actors becomes essential to safeguard the principles of universal suffrage and participatory democracy.
UPSC Mains Practice Question
While updating electoral rolls is crucial for electoral integrity, the process must uphold inclusiveness and fairness. Critically examine the implications of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in this context.
