A major revision of the electoral rolls is expected to start across India around October this year, according to sources from the Election Commission.
Launch of Nationwide Voter Roll Revision
The Election Commission discussed this plan during a meeting with Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) from all states and Union Territories held on Wednesday. During the meeting, the proposal was approved.
A similar revision was recently carried out in Bihar just before its state assembly elections. Now, this revision process will be expanded to cover every state and Union Territory.
According to sources, the announcement for this Special Intensive Revision (SIR) might be made even before the Bihar elections are over.
During the meeting, the Election Commission asked CEOs how quickly they could be ready to begin the process.
Most officials assured they would finish the necessary groundwork by September, allowing the revision to begin in October.
The day-long meeting mainly focused on planning and logistics for the SIR. It included detailed presentations that lasted over three and a half hours.
As part of the revision, the Election Commission asked the CEOs to prepare a list of acceptable documents that can be used to verify voter identities.
Cleaning Up Voter Lists and Verifying Eligibility
These documents will be based on what is locally accepted and easily available, as they can differ from region to region.
For example, in tribal areas, the northeast, and coastal regions, people often use unique documents for identity and address proof.
In many places, regional councils and local bodies also issue certificates that are widely recognized.
The Commission has asked states to consider these local differences while finalizing the document list for voter verification.
The main goal of this Special Intensive Revision is to clean up the voter rolls by removing names of people who have passed away, moved permanently, are non-citizens, or are duplicate entries.
At the same time, the aim is to include all eligible voters, as explained by the Election Commission.
Meanwhile, the quick voter roll revision in Bihar, carried out ahead of elections, has drawn criticism.
Opposition parties such as the Congress, RJD, and Trinamool Congress have raised concerns, saying that the process might lead to the removal of many voters from marginalised communities.
However, the Election Commission has defended the SIR, saying it is an essential step to ensure the accuracy and fairness of the electoral rolls.
The full-scale launch of this voter data revision across India is expected to begin by October.
