by Vinod Chandrashekhar Dixit
Kudos to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for initiating the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) programme — a crucial step towards ensuring accuracy and purity in the electoral rolls. By identifying errors, eliminating duplicate entries, and enrolling eligible voters, the ECI is actively strengthening the democratic process. The SIR programme reflects the Commission’s commitment to free and fair elections, and empowers citizens by ensuring that their voices are recognized and counted. This initiative will undoubtedly enhance voter confidence and promote electoral transparency.
In a diverse and populous nation like India, where internal migration and resettlement are common due to employment, education, and other socioeconomic factors, revising electoral rolls before every election is not just important — it is essential. Unfortunately, in the past, this exercise was not carried out consistently or thoroughly, resulting in many eligible voters arriving at polling booths only to find their names missing from the rolls.
Equally problematic has been the failure to remove the names of deceased individuals in a timely manner, which has enabled discrepancies and, in some cases, opened the door for malpractices. Such inaccuracies not only distort voter turnout statistics but can also influence electoral outcomes.
The SIR stands out as the most effective mechanism for identifying and removing names of deceased individuals, detecting duplicates, and excluding persons who have permanently shifted their residence. By ensuring that only eligible citizens vote, it safeguards the integrity of the electoral process. Additionally, it provides an opportunity to correct errors in voter data — including names, addresses, age, and other identifying details — ultimately leading to a more reliable and trustworthy voter list.
Through house-to-house verification, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) can locate newly eligible voters who have turned 18, as well as those previously missed, and help them register. This effort is essential for expanding democratic participation and ensuring the promise of universal adult suffrage is upheld.
Given India’s rapid urbanization and constant internal migration, SIR helps keep electoral rolls responsive to demographic changes — ensuring voters are correctly registered in their current place of residence. A transparent, updated electoral roll fosters trust among the electorate, political parties, and the general public, reinforcing faith in the legitimacy of the electoral process. When the voter list is believed to be clean and accurate, confidence in election results rises accordingly.
Political parties frequently question the integrity of voter rolls, particularly concerning the inclusion of ineligible voters or the exclusion of legitimate ones. In response, the SIR programme serves as one of the ECI’s strongest instruments to address these concerns and maintain a level playing field during elections.
The ECI’s broader objective is to create an error-free voter list in which every eligible citizen is included, and no ineligible or duplicate names remain. As part of this mission, the National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme (NERPAP) was launched, aiming to link Aadhaar numbers with voter data to eliminate inaccuracies.
To implement these goals, the ECI is conducting door-to-door surveys, updating voter information digitally, and identifying and eliminating duplicate voter IDs to prevent electoral fraud. It is also ensuring that all eligible citizens — including those without permanent addresses — can exercise their right to vote.
Additionally, initiatives such as the Systematic Instrument for Rectification (SIR) and the Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication (ERPa) further bolster the accuracy and transparency of electoral rolls.
The Special Intensive Revision is, therefore, not just an administrative exercise, but a vital democratic function. Citizen participation in SIR contributes to the creation of a clean, authentic electoral roll — strengthening democratic institutions and promoting fair elections. There is no doubt that through the effective implementation of SIR, India can fortify its electoral system, ensuring elections that are free, fair, transparent, and truly reflective of the will of its citizens.
