The Samajwadi Party (SP) has raised serious concerns regarding the integrity of the electoral rolls in the Anupshahr Assembly constituency, alleging that over 27,000 voter names have been manipulated. On July 28, the party submitted a memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Uttar Pradesh, calling for a thorough investigation into these alleged irregularities.

In its memorandum, the SP claimed that the modifications allegedly included both the selective addition and removal of surnames, affecting voters across 448 polling booths. The opposition party further contended that some entries in the electoral roll were altered on religious grounds, raising questions about the fairness of the voter registration process.

The SP also accused electoral authorities of changing the Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers for nearly 800 voters without valid justification. In light of this, the party has demanded that updated identity cards be issued to all individuals who have been affected by these alterations.

Call for Investigation and Electoral Roll Purification

As Uttar Pradesh approaches its 2027 Assembly elections, the SP has urged the Chief Electoral Officer to initiate an immediate and detailed investigation into the alleged discrepancies within the electoral rolls. The party emphasised the importance of ensuring that the electoral rolls are accurately maintained to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.

Previously, on July 26, the Election Commission of India initiated a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across the country. This effort aims to maintain accurate, up-to-date voter lists while eliminating ineligible or duplicate entries. It also seeks to ensure that no eligible voter is overlooked in the registration process.

According to a press release from the Election Commission of India, this SIR exercise commenced in Bihar in preparation for the 2025 State Legislative Assembly elections. The methodology involved comprehensive house-to-house enumeration conducted by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), alongside the distribution and collection of enumeration forms. Following this, a draft electoral roll was published, allowing a window for claims and objections before the final electoral roll is prepared.

Judicial Oversight and Quality Checks

The Supreme Court, in its ruling dated May 27, 2026, in the case of Association for Democratic Reforms & Ors. vs. Election Commission of India & Ors., affirmed that the SIR process falls within the statutory authority of the Election Commission under the Representation of the People Act, 1950. This ruling reiterated the Commission’s constitutional duty under Article 324 to ensure free and fair elections.

According to the Election Commission’s press release, internal quality checks are integral to each stage of the SIR process. This includes cross-verification of BLO enumeration by supervisory personnel and conducting random sample audits of deleted entries. The Commission also places draft and final electoral rolls in the public domain to allow scrutiny by political parties and voters alike.

During the period allocated for claims and objections, grievances raised by the public are reviewed, and names are reinstated in the electoral rolls if the claims are deemed valid. The SP’s allegations of irregularities underscore the necessity for rigorous verification to prevent any compromise on electoral integrity as the election date approaches.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share