Get ready, India! The Election Commission (EC) is gearing up for a major nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral lists. Following the completion of the SIR in Bihar, the EC is set to roll out this extensive exercise across all states and Union Territories by the year end. This is a big deal, promising to bring greater accuracy and transparency to our voter rolls.
The EC is currently holding its breath, awaiting a crucial Supreme Court hearing on September 8 concerning the Bihar electoral list revision. Once that’s out of the way, expect the official announcement to drop. It’s all about timing and making sure every ‘i’ is dotted and every ‘t’ is crossed before embarking on such a massive undertaking.
The Bihar SIR was a bit of a race against time, with officials and voters working diligently to complete the process before the state’s Assembly elections. But for the rest of the country, things are looking smoother. Without an immediate election deadline looming, the nationwide SIR can proceed at a more measured pace, ensuring a thorough and efficient process. Electoral officials across India have already been alerted, and booth level officers and political party agents are undergoing training in Delhi, getting ready for the immense task ahead.
Looking ahead, states like Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu are slated for Assembly polls in 2026. The EC plans to wrap up the SIR exercise at least six months before these elections, allowing ample time for any adjustments and ensuring a clean slate for the upcoming polls. This proactive approach underscores the EC’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of our democratic process.
The Bihar experience has been a valuable learning curve for the EC. Many issues flagged by citizens and parties during this revision will be addressed more effectively in the nationwide SIR. One interesting point highlighted by EC sources is the recurring “House No. 0” problem. For years, this notional house number was assigned to homes without specific numbering, and it largely went unquestioned.
However, with the increased scrutiny on electoral rolls, the EC is determined to find a better solution. “For several years, the House No. 0 was given to those homes that have no house numbers. No one questioned this all these years. But with the electoral rolls now under much focus and scrutiny, we plan to find a better way to deal with this notional house number,” an EC source stated, emphasizing the poll panel’s transparency.
In Bihar, as the updated SIR data is about to be released, some fascinating insights have emerged. A whopping 2.17 lakh applications were filed by voters to exclude names from the list, significantly outnumbering the 36,475 applications for inclusion. While a detailed analysis is pending, the initial impression is that these deletions primarily target deceased voters or duplicate entries. It seems the SIR has spurred people to take action.
“The SIR has made people aware to come forward and engage in fair play. It seems people who have names at multiple places have developed cold feet and are rushing to get names deleted and retain them only at one place. What is to be noted is that the voters are directly filing this with the EC,” sources revealed. This direct engagement highlights a growing awareness among the electorate.
Political parties have also been active, with 119 complaints for exclusions and 25 for inclusions. CPI(ML)-Liberation led the charge with 103 exclusion complaints, while the BJP submitted ten names for removal. For inclusions, CPI(ML)-Liberation provided 15 names, and the RJD added ten. On a positive note, a remarkable 16.56 lakh first time voters have applied for inclusion, showcasing the vibrancy of our electoral system.
On a separate but related note, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera has been issued a notice by New Delhi’s electoral registration officer. He is allegedly registered in two different constituencies: Kakanagar in New Delhi (Assembly constituency number 40) and Nizamuddin East, Jangpura, also in New Delhi (Assembly constituency number 41), each with a distinct EPIC number. This incident further underscores the importance of the upcoming nationwide electoral roll revision.
Khera had previously claimed that the Congress filed 89 lakh complaints regarding the voter list in Bihar. The Bihar chief electoral officer has since requested evidence in the form of an affidavit before initiating action on such a large number of deletion requests. It’s clear that the Election Commission is serious about ensuring the accuracy and fairness of our voting process.