The Election Commission of India assessed the preparedness for a nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls last week. The exercise, necessary to keep the voter list accurate, must be handled with care and fairness to strengthen confidence in the electoral process. Bihar’s recent experience serves as a cautionary reminder of the consequences of a rushed exercise being perceived as mismanaged. The revision also became a political flashpoint, with the focus shifting to citizenship verification. The opposition claimed that the citizenship of large groups of voters from the border districts was being questioned. The matter even reached the Supreme Court. Public arguments between political leaders and the commission widened the trust deficit. What should have been a routine administrative process ultimately dented the institution’s credibility.
The lesson is clear: transparency and consultation are essential. Political parties, state governments and the electorate must be taken into confidence before new procedures are introduced. The commission should announce future SIRs in states much in advance, along with clear timelines, a list of accepted documents, and accessible grievance redress systems. Two matters in particular require clarification: whether citizenship verification applies nationwide or only in the border states, and the precise set of documents required to prove identity, residence, and citizenship. Timing also matters; in states where assembly elections are due in 2026, the commission must not hurry through the revision, providing enough time for corrections and objections. Schedules hurried through only raise suspicion and make it harder for voters to protect their rights. Publishing the list of documents beforehand is especially important in rural and border regions, where sudden demands can create chaos and resentment.
States such as Assam, West Bengal, and Jammu & Kashmir require special sensitivity. Here, demographic issues are politically charged, and any hint that the SIR is linked to partisan narratives could inflame tensions. The exercise must remain strictly administrative, and the courts must pitch in to ensure that political messaging does not stray into ideological territory. Migrants also need consideration. Millions of workers move seasonally and may be at risk of exclusion. Adequate notice and holding the revision during lean months when migrants return home are essential safeguards. Ultimately, the measure of success is not just technical accuracy, but whether the process produces an inclusive and credible voter roll.