• The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2.0 has sparked nationwide concern due to widespread voter distress, manual procedural delays, and the summoning of eminent citizens to prove residency despite the availability of advanced digital infrastructure.
• It highlights a critical mismatch between the Election Commission’s (EC) digital capabilities (ECINet) and the ground-level reliance on error-prone paper-based hearings.

What is SIR Verification Digitization?

• Digitizing SIR verification refers to the transition from manual, paper-based field inquiries and physical hearings to an automated, audit-ready digital workflow.
• It involves using the ECINet platform for backend cross-verification of identity documents, real-time status updates via SMS/Email, and online document uploading to eliminate the need for voters to appear physically before electoral officers.

What is Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?

• SIR refers to a large-scale, intensive revision of electoral rolls by the Election Commission of India under its constitutional and statutory powers. Usually triggered in anticipation of high-stakes elections or when the rolls have remained largely unchanged for years, the SIR involves steps such as fresh enumeration forms, house-to-house verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), document verification of voters, deletion of ineligible entries, and inclusion of those omitted. The SIR 2025 in Bihar, where more than 8 crore voters were to be re-verified, is the latest example.

Key facts:

• The legal basis lies in Article 324 of the Constitution (superintendence, direction and control of elections) and Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, which allows the Commission to carry out “special revision of the electoral roll.”
• The objective is to include every eligible citizen (18+ years) and to remove duplicates, deceased persons, ineligible entries and correct errors like wrong names or addresses.
• It is not simply a summary revision but combines features of a full enumeration (intensive revision) and summary updates, hence the nomenclature “Special Intensive”

Key Features of Special Intensive Revision (SIR)

• Cleaning of Rolls: Aims to remove duplicate, shifted, and deceased voters to ensure one citizen, one vote.
• Inclusion of New Voters: Focuses on registering first-time voters and eligible residents who were previously left out.
• Correction of Legacy Errors: Intended to fix inconsistencies originating from the 2002-04 rolls, such as non-mapped voters.
• Enumeration Forms (EF): Use of specific forms to collect updated demographic and residency data from every household.
• Audit Trails: Built-in digital tracking within ECINet to monitor the progress of applications from submission to final approval.

Special Intensive Revision Legal Framework

• The legal and constitutional basis for SIR is critical for understanding its authority and challenges:
• Article 324 (1): Grants the ECI superintendence, direction and control of elections to Parliament and State Legislatures.
• Article 326: Guarantees adult suffrage to all citizens aged 18+ for elections to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
• Representation of the People Act, 1950, Section 16 and 19: Sets out criteria for voter eligibility (citizen, 18+, ordinary resident). Section 21(3) empowers the ECI to order special roll revision.
• Registration of Electors Rules, 1960: Specifies procedures for enrolment, revision, etc. Some legal commentators note that the term “Special Intensive Revision” itself is not explicitly present in the Rulebook, raising questions of nomenclature and procedural clarity.

Special Intensive Revision Process

The SIR process involves several distinct phases and features which differentiate it from routine roll updates:

1. Notification & Planning: The ECI issues notification specifying qualifying date (e.g., July 1, 2025 in Bihar).
2. House-to-House Enumeration: BLOs visit every house in assigned polling booth area and distribute pre-filled “Enumeration Forms” to existing electors and new eligible persons.
3. Submission of Documents: For voters enrolled after a certain past date (e.g., Jan 2003 in Bihar SIR) proof of date/place of birth and parentage is required. This is stricter than earlier frameworks.
4. Verification & Deletions/ Additions: EROs scrutinise the submissions, identify deaths, duplicates, migration, ineligible voters and remove them; simultaneously new inclusions are processed. For example in Jaipur, 741 new polling booths were to be created under SIR to accommodate changes.
5. Draft Publication & Objections: A draft roll is published, objections entertained, grievance redressal mechanism applied. The Supreme Court directed ECI to publish details of deleted names in the Bihar SIR litigation.
6. Final Roll & Freeze: The final roll is constituted and frozen for ensuing election. Additions/deletions after that are restricted to special cases

Need for Digital Special Intensive Revision

• Accuracy and Integrity: Manual processes are prone to human error; digital cross-referencing with existing databases (like Aadhaar) ensures higher data sanctity.
• Reducing Citizen Hardship: Digitization removes the need for physical summons and long queues, especially for the elderly, monks, and professionals.
• Addressing the Non-Mapped Crisis: Over 10 million voters in states like UP are flagged as non-mapped; digital uploading can resolve these discrepancies in minutes rather than weeks.
• Preventing Legal Risks: Currently, deleted voters must use Form 6 (meant for first-timers), forcing them to make factually incorrect statements that risk criminal liability under BNS 2023.
• Real-time Transparency: Digital systems allow voters to track their status and receive instant acknowledgments, reducing anxiety and procedural indignity.

Challenges Associated with SIR 2.0:

• Reliance on Flawed Legacy Data: The 2002-04 rolls, which were manual and lacked third-party checks, still form the foundation of current rolls.
• Data Inconsistencies: Significant gaps exist between different records.
• E.g., the 13-million-voter discrepancy between Panchayat and SIR rolls in UP.
• Digital Divide: Vulnerable sections and rural populations may struggle with online uploads without the active assistance of Booth Level Officers (BLOs).
• Institutional Resistance: A choice in enforcement where authorities prefer coercive manual hearings over streamlined digital workflows.
• Mass Deletions: Allegations of nearly 65 million genuine voters being deleted nationwide without adequate notice or verification.

Way Forward

• Notify and Update: The EC must notify every applicant of their form status (accepted/flagged) via SMS and EPIC-linked accounts immediately.
• Backend Integration: Connect ECINet with other government databases for automatic document authentication, similar to Aadhaar-based KYC.
• Hybrid Support Model: Utilize BLOs to assist digitally illiterate voters in uploading documents at their doorstep or nearby kiosks.
• Policy Correction: Amend the process so that restored voters are not forced to file first-time applications (Form 6), thus protecting them from legal jeopardy.
• Real-time Draft Updates: Transition to a system where draft rolls are updated in real-time as digital verification is completed.

Conclusion:

• The sanctity of the electoral roll is the bedrock of a healthy democracy; however, it must be achieved without compromising the dignity of the citizen. By shifting from suspicion-based manual hearings to a trust-based digital infrastructure, the Election Commission can ensure a clean roll that is both inclusive and accurate. Ultimately, technology must be used not just as a tool for administration, but as a safeguard for public trust and democratic participation.