Congress Alleges Flaws in Electoral Roll Revision, Seeks Extension
Congress claims electoral roll revision causing hardship, demands extension for enrollments.
Photo by Brett Jordan
Key Facts
KPCC: Alleges flaws in special intensive revision (SIR)
Concern: 60 lakh voters at risk of exclusion
Demand: Extend new enrollments under SIR till Feb 14
Fresh enrollments: A little over 4.8 lakh applications filed
UPSC Exam Angles
GS Paper II: Polity and Governance - Electoral process, Election Commission, Representation of People Act
Connects to syllabus areas on constitutional bodies, statutory bodies, and electoral reforms
Potential question types: Statement-based, analytical questions on electoral reforms
Visual Insights
Electoral Roll Revision - Key Statistics (January 2026)
Key statistics related to the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Kerala, highlighting the concerns raised by the Congress party.
- Voters Facing Uncertainty (Kerala)
- 60 Lakh
- New Enrollment Applications (Kerala)
- 4.8 Lakh
Number of existing voters potentially at risk of exclusion due to ASD, non-mapping, and logical discrepancy lists. This impacts voter confidence and participation.
Number of applications filed for fresh enrollment after the EC published the draft roll. Indicates public interest and demand for voter registration.
More Information
Background
The process of electoral roll revision in India has evolved significantly since the first general elections in 1951-52. Initially, the focus was on creating a basic, accurate list of eligible voters. Over the decades, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced various measures to enhance the integrity and inclusivity of the electoral rolls.
Key milestones include the introduction of photo electoral rolls, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). The concept of special intensive revision (SIR) emerged as a targeted approach to address specific issues like demographic changes, migration, and discrepancies in voter data. The legal framework for electoral roll revision is primarily governed by the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, which have been amended periodically to reflect evolving needs and challenges.
Latest Developments
In recent years, the ECI has focused on leveraging technology to improve the accuracy and accessibility of electoral rolls. The introduction of the National Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme (NERPAP) aimed to eliminate duplicate and bogus voters. The linking of Aadhaar with voter IDs, though initially proposed, faced legal challenges and concerns regarding privacy.
The ECI has also been actively promoting voter awareness and participation through various campaigns and initiatives. Looking ahead, the focus is likely to be on further streamlining the electoral roll revision process, enhancing data security, and addressing emerging challenges such as the impact of social media on electoral integrity. The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning for data analysis and fraud detection is also being explored.
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding the Election Commission of India (ECI): 1. The ECI is a constitutional body responsible for conducting free and fair elections to the Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President. 2. The Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office only through a process of impeachment similar to that of a judge of the Supreme Court. 3. The ECI has the power to delimit constituencies and prepare electoral rolls for all elections. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: D
All three statements are correct. The ECI is a constitutional body under Article 324, responsible for elections. The CEC's removal process is similar to a Supreme Court judge. The ECI also handles delimitation and electoral roll preparation.
2. Which of the following statements accurately describes the 'Absent/Shifted/Dead (ASD)' list in the context of electoral roll revision? A) It is a list of voters who have applied for a change of address within the same constituency. B) It is a list of voters whose names are suspected to be duplicates in the electoral roll. C) It is a list of voters who are either absent from their registered address, have shifted to a new location, or are deceased. D) It is a list of voters who have been identified as Persons with Disabilities (PwD) requiring special assistance during elections.
- A.It is a list of voters who have applied for a change of address within the same constituency.
- B.It is a list of voters whose names are suspected to be duplicates in the electoral roll.
- C.It is a list of voters who are either absent from their registered address, have shifted to a new location, or are deceased.
- D.It is a list of voters who have been identified as Persons with Disabilities (PwD) requiring special assistance during elections.
Show Answer
Answer: C
The ASD list identifies voters who are absent, shifted, or deceased, which is crucial for maintaining accurate electoral rolls and preventing fraudulent voting.
3. The Representation of the People Act, 1950 deals with which of the following? 1. Allocation of seats and delimitation of constituencies 2. Qualification of voters 3. Disqualification for membership of Parliament and State Legislatures Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: A
The Representation of the People Act, 1950 primarily deals with the allocation of seats and delimitation of constituencies, and the qualification of voters. Disqualification for membership is covered under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.