NEW DELHI – The Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated a new “special drive” across 20 states and Union Territories where the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has concluded. The directive aims to ensure the enrollment of all eligible citizens, particularly those previously omitted and first-time voters.
This move comes amidst significant scrutiny and criticism regarding the management of electoral rolls, including reports of 13 crore names being removed from draft lists across 30 states and UTs. Concerns have also been raised about the process of voter deletions and the overall integrity of the electoral roll system.
Mandate for Continuous Updation and Plain Form 6
In a letter dated September 29, reiterated during a subsequent video conference with Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) nationwide, the ECI instructed CEOs, District Election Officers (DEOs), and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to actively enroll eligible voters through continuous updation. A key aspect of this drive is the mandatory use of the plain statutory Form 6 for applications, specifically excluding a controversial question added in July that asked applicants about their or their parents' previous inclusion on voter lists post-SIR.
This earlier modification to Form 6 had drawn objections from Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, who deemed it “unauthorised” and asserted that only the government could amend such rules.
Identifying Omissions and Ensuring Inclusion
Officers attending the video conference were instructed to conduct a thorough comparison of pre-SIR and post-SIR electoral rolls to identify potential omissions. The drive will involve house visits to assist voters in filling out Form 6, particularly targeting individuals not mapped elsewhere, those mistakenly duplicated, or incorrectly marked as deceased. Political parties and booth-level agents are also to be engaged in this process.
In Maharashtra, where the SIR is still ongoing, officials have been specifically cautioned against hasty voter removals. They are required to ensure proper hearings, scrutiny, and opportunities for citizens to submit necessary documents before any exclusion takes place. Special camps are scheduled in Maharashtra on October 3, 4, 10, and 11 to facilitate enrollments and address discrepancies.
ECINet Concerns and Centralization Objections
The ECI's directive also implicitly addresses deeper concerns regarding the centralized control of ECINet, the electoral roll database. The case of 97 eligible voters in Goa, who were deleted at the draft stage despite being cleared by EROs but could not be reinstated due to ECINet limitations, highlighted these issues. The Goa Chief Electoral Officer's repeated attempts to reverse these deletions through ECINet went unanswered.
Election Commissioners Sandhu and Joshi had previously recorded multiple objections over decisions made without their knowledge, including the Form 6 changes and the increasing centralization of ECINet. Sandhu underscored that electoral roll responsibilities lie with EROs, DEOs, and CEOs, while Joshi called for an audit of the “gradual centralisation of the electoral roll database.”
The special drive is a critical step to rectify past errors and reinforce the democratic principle of universal adult suffrage, ensuring all eligible citizens have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.