Special Intensive Revision Of Electoral Rolls

The Election Commission of India (EC) has initiated a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar before the general elections for its Legislative Assembly.

About SIR

Refers: A house-to-house verification process to update electoral rolls from scratch.
Aim: To enrol all eligible citizens and remove ineligible/duplicate/foreign entries.
Conducted by: Booth Level Officers (BLOs) under Section 21(3) of RPA, 1950 and Article 324(1) of the Constitution.
Objectives
- Ensure only genuine Indian citizens aged 18+ are on the rolls.
- Weed out illegal immigrants, duplicates, and ineligible voters.
- Maintain the integrity and credibility of the Electoral Roll.
- Strengthen democracy and enable free & fair elections.

Electoral Roll: Constitutional & Legal Basis

Refers: The electoral roll, also known as the voters’ list, is a comprehensive list that includes the names of all eligible voters in a specific jurisdiction.
- It lists the names of voters irrespective of gender, caste or class.
- Ensures natural justice by providing opportunities for inclusion/exclusion with transparency.
Article 324: EC empowered for superintendence, direction, and control of electoral rolls.
Article 326: Voting right for every citizen aged 18+.
Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950:
- Section 16: Disqualifies non-citizens.
- Section 19: Requires age (18+) and ordinary residence.
- Section 20: Defines “ordinarily resident” (mere property ownership ≠ residence).
- Section 21: EC may revise rolls through Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Historical Context: Evolution of Electoral Roll Revisions

1952-1956: 1/5th state area revised annually.
1960: Amendment made January 1–31 as revision window.
1983-84: Rural constituencies revised intensively before 1985 elections.
1993: Introduction of EPIC (voter ID) cards.
2002: Last nationwide de-novo (fresh) electoral roll preparation.

Types of Revisions under Rule 25(1), Registration of Electors Rules, 1960

Summary Revision – routine, minor updates.
Intensive Revision – de-novo (fresh), not relying on past rolls.
Special Intensive Revision (SIR) – targeted, usually when existing rolls are outdated or questionable.

Suggestions

EC must ensure no exclusion of eligible voters, especially the poor & migrants.
Use Aadhaar linkage to detect duplicate entries, while ensuring privacy.
Extend timelines and grievance redressal during claims and objections phase.
Balance voter purity with inclusion—exclusion is as damaging as inclusion of ineligible names.

Why is Bihar’s Case Unique?

The last SIR in Bihar was in 2003.
SIR covers door-to-door verification; now, every individual must submit a form (vs only head of household earlier).
All electors must fill an enumeration form; those added after 2003 must furnish proof of citizenship.
Combines intensive verification with historic roll reference—a hybrid approach.
The Statistics: Draft rolls show 7.96 crore electors in Bihar (as of Jan 1, 2025).
- 4.96 crore listed in 2003 roll are automatically eligible.
- Children of 2003 voters can use parental entry as proof.
- However, the 2003 roll includes deceased/migrated persons—verification needed.
Accepted Documents for Citizenship Proof
- Extracts from 2003 electoral roll (for parents), birth certificate, passport, family register, land allotment papers, NRC extract, pension orders, etc.
- Aadhaar is not accepted—as it doesn’t prove citizenship.
Concerns Raised
- Over 8 crore voters must fill forms; ~3 crore need birth/citizenship proof.
- Migrants and students may be excluded due to documentation gaps.
- The poor may lack alternative documents besides Aadhaar.
- Fear of exclusion errors, suppression, and bureaucratic overreach.

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