SIR: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has been received by much fanfare by honest and legal citizens of India. However, those who support illegal residents from other countries continue to hit at the Election Commission of India (ECI) for its honest attempt to cleanse India’s voter lists and ensure fraud-free elections.
The primary purpose of SIR is to eliminate ghost voters in the country – those who are ineligible, dead, or registered multiple times.
Purposes of Special Intensive Revision
- Improves accuracy and credibility of voter lists
- Eliminates duplicate and ghost voters from electoral rolls
- Facilitates fair, accountable, and transparent elections
- Supports efficient polling station management
- Reduces risk of electoral fraud and malpractice
- Ensures only eligible citizens are registered to vote
- Enhances inclusion of newly eligible voters
- Strengthens overall integrity of the electoral system
Positive Intent and Legal Basis
Legally, the concept of SIR is rooted in the statutory and constitutional powers of the Election Commission of India, which aims to uphold the principle of “one person, one vote.” The process involves house-to-house verification, document checks, and deletion of ineligible entries. This is to ensure that only genuine citizens of India remain on the electoral rolls. The exercise is not arbitrary in nature but backed by legal provisions such as Article 326 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act.
Interestingly, the Supreme Court of India ruled recently that illegal immigrants and intruders do not have any legal right. The SC ruled that the poor of India have priority over illegal immigrants.
Benefits for Democracy
SIR brings countless benefits for India’s democracy. The process reduces the risk of electoral malpractice by removing duplicate and ghost voters. The revision also helps include newly eligible voters, internal migrants, and marginalized groups who may have been previously left out. Furthermore, digital integration and technological upgrades such as biometric verification and blockchain further strengthen the integrity and accessibility of the electoral system.
Balancing Trust and Distrust
There is no denying the fact that the intent of SIR is positive and its impact on public trust will depend on how transparently and inclusively it is implemented. Ultimately, the success of SIR would lie in eliminating ghost voters and ensuring every eligible citizen feels confident and included in the democratic process.
