The Election Commission launches a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in 12 states and UTs to clean electoral rolls. CEC Gyanesh Kumar confirms voter list freezing tonight to ensure transparency, remove duplication, and ensure only legitimate voters participate.
In a major step toward ensuring a transparent and accurate electoral process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Monday that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive will commence in 12 states and Union Territories (UTs) starting this week. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar confirmed that the electoral rolls of these regions will be frozen tonight, marking the beginning of a crucial phase in India’s voter verification and cleansing initiative.
During a press briefing, CEC Kumar lauded the efforts of polling officials and the participation of citizens during the successful voter verification drive in Bihar, where the SIR was first implemented as a pilot. He emphasized that the purpose of this country-wide revision is to maintain the purity of the electoral rolls by removing invalid or duplicate entries, ensuring that every eligible voter’s name is correctly recorded.
Historical Significance and Rationale Behind SIR
Tracing the history of voter list revisions, the CEC noted that the Special Intensive Revision has been conducted eight times since India’s independence, beginning in 1951 and most recently in 2004. The long gap since the last SIR has prompted political parties and civil society organizations to demand renewed efforts to ensure that only legitimate voters participate in elections.
Kumar elaborated that the need for such revisions arises from factors such as migration, deaths, and duplication of voter identities. The ongoing mobility of India’s population, coupled with digital advancements, makes it essential for the Commission to periodically “cleanse” the rolls, he said. “It is the responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure that every vote cast in this democracy comes from a genuine and verifiable elector,” he stressed.
Detailed Procedure of the Purification Drive
Explaining the procedure, the Chief Election Commissioner said that enumeration forms will be printed and distributed across the participating states and UTs. The voters’ lists will be officially frozen by Monday night, meaning no further additions or deletions can be made until the verification process is completed.
Under the Election Registration Officers (EROs), each polling station typically caters to about 1,000 voters, with an assembly segment containing between 300 and 400 polling stations. The Booth Level Officers (BLOs), working under the ERO’s supervision, play a vital role in ensuring accurate roll preparation.
Kumar detailed that BLOs will visit each household three times, distributing enumeration forms and enabling voters to digitally verify their details through a secure link to historical records.
“If there has been no change since 2003, no re-linking with old EPIC cards is necessary,” he explained. “However, those whose records are not linked will need to provide supporting documents as required by the Commission.”
Following these checks, the draft and final voter lists will be published by the EROs and Deputy EROs, ensuring that every entry has been verified and corrected wherever necessary.
Involvement of Political Parties
The Chief Election Commissioner also appealed to all six national political parties to appoint their respective BLOs to assist in the verification and feedback process. He mentioned that the Chief Electoral Officers, District Electoral Officers (DROs), and EROs have been instructed to hold detailed consultations with political representatives, briefing them about the objectives and methodology of the “purging” exercise.
Kumar reaffirmed that political participation is critical for the success of SIR, as it helps ensure cross-verification and transparency. “A clean and credible electoral roll is the foundation of any democracy,” he said. “This process will pave the way for free and fair elections in the upcoming cycles.”
Pan-India Rollout Expected
Hinting at a broader rollout, the CEC confirmed that after its successful implementation in Bihar, the SIR will soon expand to all states and UTs in a phased manner. “Our goal is to ensure that the electoral rolls across India are uniform, transparent, and free from discrepancies,” he said.
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As the SIR officially begins in 12 states and UTs tonight, India’s election machinery gears up for another significant milestone in its journey toward electoral integrity.
