Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls
The Representation of the People Bill introduced by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 1950 highlighted the importance of electoral rolls for elections. The Election Commission of India (ECI) conducts periodic and special revisions to maintain accuracy in electoral rolls. This summary addresses the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025, its necessity, and challenges faced.
Modes of Updating Electoral Rolls
- Intensive Revisions: Rebuilding the electoral list from scratch.
- Summary Revisions: Incremental corrections to the existing list.
The last major intensive revision occurred in 2002-2003, with recent reliance on special summary revisions.
Challenges and Legal Concerns
The implementation of SIR 2025 in Bihar led to Supreme Court petitions questioning its constitutionality, citing potential mass voter deletion. However, the ECI is constitutionally empowered to undertake such revisions.
Objective of SIR 2025
- Ensure only eligible citizens vote as per Article 326 of the Constitution.
- Prevent ineligible individuals from voting.
Technological and Administrative Innovations
- Door-to-Door Verification: Physical verification of each elector.
- Proof of Citizenship: Expanded from 4 to 11 acceptable documents, including Aadhaar cards.
- Digital Documentation: All supporting documents digitized and available online.
- Engagement with Political Parties: Training for booth-level agents.
Outcomes of SIR 2025
- 7.5 crore entries verified in Bihar.
- 65 lakh deletions from the draft list.
- Only 2,53,524 claims and objections received, suggesting careful scrutiny.
SIR 2025 demonstrates the ECI's commitment to its constitutional duties, balancing technological advances with traditional processes to ensure electoral integrity.
