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Picture Courtesy:  THE HINDU

Context

The Election Commission of India has started the second phase of Special Intensive Revision of voter lists in 12 States and Union Territories.

What is Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?

It is a time-bound, door-to-door verification process designed to ensure electoral rolls are accurate, complete, and up-to-date. Its core objectives include:

• Enrolling new eligible voters 
• Eliminating "ghost voters," duplicate registrations, and deceased individuals.
• Correcting inaccuracies to enhance the integrity of the electoral process.

Unlike routine annual revisions, SIR is a more focused and in-depth drive, often implemented when significant discrepancies are noted or before major elections. 

Key Aspects of the Latest SIR Initiative (2025-26):

Phased Implementation

A successful pilot phase in Bihar resulted in a 6% reduction in electors without any appeals against deletions.

Second Phase Coverage

Currently, 12 states and Union Territories are covered, including Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. This phase targets about 51 crore electors.

Exclusion

Assam is excluded due to its ongoing National Register of Citizens (NRC) process and specific provisions under the Citizenship Act.

Operational Mechanism: 

Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will conduct multiple household visits, distributing Unique Enumeration Forms for voter verification and linking family records. 

Online submission options are also available via the ECI's Voters' Portal and Voter Helpline App.

What is the significance of the SIR 

Ensuring Inclusivity and Participation

Enrolling all eligible citizens, including newly turned 18-year-olds, women, and migrant workers, thereby boosting voter participation.

Maintaining Purity and Integrity

Addressing large-scale migration, multiple registrations, and the presence of deceased or non-citizen voters that have accumulated over two decades since the last nationwide revision (2002-2005). 

The SIR aims to eliminate "ghost voters" and duplicate entries that can lead to electoral manipulation.

Addressing Political Party Concerns

Responding to consistent complaints from political parties regarding the "impurity" of electoral rolls promoting trust among stakeholders.

Constitutional Mandate

Article 324 of the Constitution grants the ECI the power to "superintend, direct, and control" electoral roll preparation, while Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, empowers the ECI to direct special revisions.

Facilitating Free and Fair Elections

By ensuring clean and updated rolls well in advance, SIR minimizes disputes and challenges during elections, strengthening credibility.

What are the Challenges related to SIR?

Risk of Disenfranchisement

Eligible voters could face disenfranchisement due to a rushed process, over-reliance on Booth Level Agents, or insufficient documentation/understanding.

Administrative Burden and Timelines

The sheer scale of a nationwide door-to-door verification puts immense pressure on BLOs and Electoral Registration Officers, and tight timelines can lead to errors.

Frequent migration, especially in urban areas, makes accurate house-to-house verification challenging. 

Digital Divide and Accessibility

While online options exist, digital literacy and access remain challenges. Only 38% of Indian households are digitally literate, according to a Ministry of Labour and Employment report.

Transparency and Trust Deficit

Deletions of names without transparency erode public trust. The Supreme Court during the Bihar SIR, mandated the ECI to publicly release names and reasons for exclusion to improve accountability and access.

Aadhaar Integration and Citizenship Verification

Aadhaar is not valid proof of citizenship, domicile, or date of birth, which complicates eligibility verification during the revision process. 

The Election Commission of India (ECI) lacks the authority to administer citizenship tests.

Way Forward 

Ensuring Transparency and Public Trust

The ECI should publicly release detailed data on voter additions and deletions, including justifications and appeal processes, across various platforms to address manipulation concerns and build public trust, as mandated by the Supreme Court.

Strengthening the Booth Level Officer (BLO) Network

Effective training, better tools, clear guidelines, and robust data management for BLOs are crucial for the initiative's success and accurate verification.

Leveraging Technology for Greater Inclusivity

Expand and promote digital platforms like the Voter Helpline App for tech-savvy urban and young voters. Improve electoral roll integrity by securely linking them with government databases (e.g., birth/death registries) while ensuring privacy.

Promoting a Collaborative Approach

Greater cooperation with recognized political parties and civil society organizations can help in reaching communities and assisting citizens in the claim and objection process.

Addressing Legal Ambiguities

A clear legal framework is needed for using identification documents like Aadhaar for voting, and it must include strong safeguards against its misuse for citizenship verification.

Conclusion

The ECI's Special Intensive Revision is crucial for maintaining electoral integrity, but requires transparency, enhanced communication, procedural refinement, technology, strong grievance mechanisms, and voter education to ensure an inclusive and trustworthy electoral roll that strengthens Indian democracy.

Source: THE HINDU