The Election Commission (EC) has directed Tripura and other states conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to refer cases of suspected foreign nationals to competent authorities under the Citizenship Act. The large-scale voter verification drive aims to ensure accurate electoral rolls ahead of future elections across India.
The Election Commission (EC) has instructed the electoral machinery in Tripura and several other states to refer cases involving suspected foreign nationals to the competent authorities while carrying out the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The directive forms part of a comprehensive voter verification exercise aimed at ensuring the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls across the country.
According to detailed instructions circulated by the Election Commission to Chief Electoral Officers on May 14, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) have been empowered to identify and refer cases of individuals suspected to be foreign nationals under the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) have also been authorized to exercise ERO powers independently for this purpose.
The directive comes as Tripura joins several states and Union Territories participating in Phase III of the nationwide Special Intensive Revision programme. The large-scale exercise covers approximately 36.73 crore electors across 16 states and three Union Territories and is being conducted in a phased manner.
Election officials stated that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will undertake extensive door-to-door verification of voters during the revision process. In instances where enumeration forms are not returned by voters, BLOs will investigate and determine possible reasons, including whether the voter is absent, has shifted residence, is deceased, or is a duplicate entry in the electoral roll. Such findings will be recorded after inquiries with nearby residents and local electors.
The Election Commission has emphasized that the exercise is intended to improve the quality of electoral rolls and remove inaccuracies that may have accumulated over time. Officials believe that accurate voter databases are essential for conducting free, fair, and transparent elections.
The voter verification exercise has previously generated political debate in different parts of the country. During preparations for a similar SIR exercise in Bihar last year, Election Commission officials had claimed that grassroots-level verification had identified several individuals from neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar, whose names allegedly appeared in electoral rolls. These claims sparked criticism from opposition parties, which alleged that the exercise could potentially be used to target certain voter groups.
Despite political disagreements, the Election Commission has maintained that the revision process is a routine administrative exercise designed solely to ensure that only eligible Indian citizens remain on electoral rolls. The Commission has reiterated that any determination regarding citizenship will be handled by competent authorities under existing legal provisions and not by electoral officials themselves.
Besides Tripura, the ongoing Phase III SIR exercise is being conducted in Delhi, Odisha, Mizoram, Sikkim, Manipur, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Telangana, Punjab, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Nagaland, and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
The scale of the operation is significant. More than 3.94 lakh Booth Level Officers have been deployed to visit households and verify voter information. They are being supported by approximately 3.42 lakh Booth Level Agents nominated by various political parties, ensuring wider participation and transparency during the enumeration process.
Election Commission data indicate that previous phases of the Special Intensive Revision have resulted in substantial corrections to electoral rolls. The exercise has already been completed in Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep. A separate special revision was also carried out in Assam.
According to official figures, the combined electoral rolls of nine states and three Union Territories covered under an earlier phase witnessed a reduction of approximately 10.2 percent after verification. More than 60 lakh deceased voters were removed from the rolls, while other ineligible or duplicate entries were also identified and deleted. The total voter base in those states and Union Territories declined from over 50.99 crore to 45.81 crore following the revision process.
The Commission believes that such corrections strengthen electoral integrity and improve public confidence in democratic institutions. However, the exercise has occasionally faced legal and political challenges. During earlier revision programmes, several political parties approached courts seeking intervention, arguing that aspects of the process required greater scrutiny. In West Bengal, political leaders had also expressed concerns regarding the voter roll clean-up exercise.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has indicated that schedules for similar exercises in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh will be announced later, taking into account weather conditions in snow-bound regions.
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As Tripura embarks on the latest phase of voter verification, election authorities are expected to closely monitor the process to ensure compliance with legal procedures while maintaining the accuracy of electoral rolls. The outcome of the exercise will play a crucial role in preparing updated voter lists for future elections and strengthening the credibility of India’s democratic framework.
