Challenges with the Current Electoral Roll System
The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) relies on legacy rolls from 2002-2004, which were manually created and prone to errors. Despite advancements in technology, these outdated records are still in use, causing significant issues in the electoral system.
Problems with Legacy Rolls
- Incomplete and ambiguous information with varying standards across states and constituencies.
- Issues like missing EPIC numbers, house numbers, and widespread spelling errors.
- Random inspections reveal alarming anomalies, such as entries implying polygamy.
- The search interface for electoral rolls is ineffective, leading to unverified and inconsistent data.
Limitations of the Current System
- The electoral rolls exist only in paper form, preventing effective verification and consistency checks.
- The ECINet system allows comprehensive digital services, but legacy data is not integrated efficiently.
- BLOs are limited in their role, mainly distributing and collecting paper Enumeration Forms (EFs) without proper digitization skills.
Proposed Reforms for an Improved Electoral System
Digitization and Integration
- Convert all State/UT rolls into a fully searchable digital format with English as the standard for searchable data.
- Integrate old records with reliable datasets like Aadhaar, PAN, and driving license records using robust APIs.
Enhanced Voter Categorization
- Classify voters into stable-address voters, frequent movers, and those with immigration/nationality issues.
Online Submission of Forms
- Ensure all Enumeration Forms are submitted online, supported by mobile digital kiosks with trained personnel.
Complete Digitization of Processes
- Document verification, uploads, and post-validation checks to be conducted entirely online with transparent workflows.
Conclusion
A fully digital system is crucial for eliminating the flaws of legacy SIR and enabling seamless integration through ECINet. These reforms are straightforward and feasible, aiming to transform SIR 2026 into a technology-driven, trustworthy national exercise. A digital overhaul is imperative to ensure transparency, verification, and integrity of the electoral system.
