Election Commission announces second phase of voter list revision in 12 states, UTs

The Election Commission will conduct phase two of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said on Monday.

He said the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) is the ninth such exercise since Independence, with the last one happening in 2002-04.

Kumar said the first phase of the SIR was completed in Bihar with zero appeals.

"The second phase will be conducted in 12 states and Union Territories. SIR will ensure no eligible elector is left out and no ineligible elector is included in poll rolls," Kumar said at a press conference.

EC's Massive Voter List Cleanup: What It Means For Your Vote

This special report details the Election Commission of India's (ECI) extensive Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls. The process involves door-to-door verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to update voter information, link it to previous electoral data, and ensure accuracy. According to an official briefing, 'It will be the responsibility of EROs and AEROs that no eligible voter is left out and no ineligible voter is included in the list.' The procedure, successfully tested in Bihar, mandates BLOs to visit every house up to three times to distribute and collect pre-filled enumeration forms. The system also includes a clear process for claims and objections, with appeals possible at the District Magistrate and Chief Electoral Officer levels, aiming to create a transparent and clean electoral roll for the entire nation.

EC's Massive Drive to Clean Indian Voter Lists; Foreign & Duplicate Voters Face Axe

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the second phase of its nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a process being undertaken after more than two decades. The press conference, addressed by the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Gyanesh Kumar, detailed the reasons for this massive exercise. The speaker stated that reasons for the revision included, 'migration... a foreign citizen's name is entered in the voter's list... Death hone ke baad bhee uska naam na hataya Jana.' This second phase of the comprehensive clean-up will be conducted in 12 states and union territories, following a similar exercise in Bihar. The primary goal of the SIR is to create an accurate and error-free voter list by removing duplicate entries, names of deceased persons, and ineligible foreign citizens, while ensuring every eligible citizen is included. The legal basis for this revision is provided under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and Article 324 of the Constitution.

Voter List War: Opposition cries foul over EC's pan-India revision exercise

This special report examines the escalating political conflict over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with key figures like West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu's M.K. Stalin, and Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan voicing strong opposition. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has sharply criticized the exercise, calling it 'nothing but a conspiracy web'. The report delves into the claims from opposition parties that the revision is a clandestine method to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and disenfranchise minorities and other communities. The programme also covers the bureaucratic reshuffle in West Bengal ahead of the exercise and the unified stance in Kerala, where the assembly passed a unanimous resolution against it. The BJP has defended the revision, stating it is necessary to remove bogus voters.

Opposition Declares War On ECI's Nationwide Voter List Revision

This special report covers the Election Commission of India's announcement of a nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, sparking a major political controversy. Congress leader Pramod Tiwari has vehemently opposed the move, which will first be implemented in poll-bound states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, and Assam. Tiwari stated, ‘we will not allow the votes of minorities, scheduled castes, backward and weaker people to be deleted. We will fight this till the last battle, till the last moment.’ The report also highlights a significant bureaucratic reshuffle in West Bengal just hours before the ECI's press conference, where 17 IAS officers, including 10 District Magistrates, were transferred, a move seen by some as a strategic attempt to pre-empt the ECI's directives.