Amidst mounting criticism from opposition parties regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has stated that updating the voter list before every election is a standard legal requirement. He made these remarks in Firozabad in response to concerns raised primarily about the ongoing SIR in Bihar. Kumar highlighted that in the past, opposition parties themselves have voiced complaints about the accuracy of voter lists.
“As per the law, the voter list must be updated before each election. A comprehensive review of voter lists and all voter details hasn’t been conducted since January 1, 2003. This is intended to be a general practice,” he explained.
He further stated that nearly every political party has previously raised concerns about voter list authenticity and requested updates. The CEC assured that over 1 lakh booth-level officers are actively working on this update with the support of all political parties, ensuring no ineligible individuals are included. The Special Intensive Revision is an initiative by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure the accuracy of electoral rolls before upcoming elections.
Earlier, Congress leader Sachin Pilot expressed apprehensions about the SIR in Bihar, questioning the Election Commission’s swiftness and urging transparency. Pilot, speaking in Dausa, Rajasthan, said that the pace of the Election Commission’s actions raises significant doubts, noting that opposition parties sought answers from the EC but were left unsatisfied.
Opposition parties like the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have voiced worries that the SIR process might be manipulated to disenfranchise voters, especially the underprivileged and marginalized communities. In response, the ECI has affirmed that the exercise strictly adheres to Article 326 of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act of 1950, aiming to eliminate ineligible entries while ensuring no eligible voter is excluded.