In response to widespread protests regarding its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has shifted its approach on two long-debated issues. The ECI has declared a Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls in 17 states and Union Territories to facilitate the enrolment of new voters. This decision comes amid growing dissatisfaction with the electoral body, particularly from opposition parties.

Additionally, the ECI has committed to providing political parties with readable PDF copies of the final electoral rolls, reversing its previous stance on the matter. This change is noteworthy as the ECI had previously resisted releasing machine-readable voter lists, citing privacy concerns after the Congress party approached the Supreme Court in 2018.

The timing of these announcements is crucial, as protests against the ECI, especially targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, have intensified over alleged irregularities in the SIR process. Reports indicate that the nationwide purging of electoral rolls has led to the exclusion of over 13 crore voters, resulting in significant confusion and unrest.

Understanding Special Summary Revision

The SIR process had previously halted the SSR exercise, which is essential for enrolling newly eligible voters, including those reaching the age of 18. This pause meant that younger voters were unable to register ahead of the 2024-25 elections, leading to widespread outrage among various groups.

It is important to distinguish between SIR and SSR. The SIR is a more comprehensive process requiring documentation to verify citizenship or to be linked with previous electoral rolls. In contrast, the SSR is a routine annual process aimed at updating voter lists and incorporating newly eligible voters without the need for mapping to prior revisions.

The last SSR was conducted in 2024, and reports suggest that internal discontent within the ECI had arisen due to the decision to pause this exercise. According to The Economic Times, Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had urged CEC Gyanesh Kumar to resume the SSR to ensure that newly eligible voters could be included in the electoral rolls.

SSR to Be Conducted in 17 States

The ECI is now reverting to its established annual revision cycle, allowing for a formal opportunity for voter re-enrolment. The SSR will be executed across 17 states and Union Territories, including those preparing for upcoming elections, such as Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab.

However, this does not guarantee that the 13 crore voters excluded during the SIR process will be reinstated on the electoral rolls. The ECI has clarified that the SSR will not automatically rectify the exclusions that occurred during the SIR exercise.

The announcement has attracted criticism from opposition figures, including Congress MP P Chidambaram, who remarked on social media that the ECI’s change of heart came only after protests and a notice from the Supreme Court. He suggested that the Chief Election Commissioner should be held accountable for the previous exclusions.

Provision of Soft Copies of Voter Rolls

Another significant development from the ECI is its decision to provide political parties with machine-readable electoral rolls in PDF format. This move addresses a long-standing demand from opposition parties and aims to facilitate easier access to voter information.

The ECI has directed officials to share lists detailing additions, deletions, and modifications to voter records, enabling parties to track changes more effectively. This will mark the first instance where political parties receive soft copies of both draft and final electoral rolls for each polling station in a searchable format.

Previously, the ECI only provided scanned PDFs that were not searchable, complicating the process for political parties attempting to identify duplicate or fraudulent entries. The demand for readable voter lists was first raised by Congress in 2018, and despite initial resistance from the ECI, the recent announcements indicate a shift in its approach amid mounting criticism.

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