The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of India’s electoral rolls is facing scrutiny over fears that it may lead to the exclusion of eligible citizens. Critics argue that the current methodology mirrors restrictive practices previously used in welfare distribution, effectively transforming the voter registration process into an informal citizenship test. While digital integration has been a feature of the Indian electoral system since the 1990s, the current approach marks a significant shift by discarding the established rolls used in the 2024 general elections. Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi noted that previous systems had achieved high levels of accuracy through individual verification. However, the move toward automated data matching, which began with Aadhaar integration in 2015, has now culminated in a process that threatens the fundamental right to vote for many, raising alarms about the integrity and inclusivity of the democratic process.
Source : Scroll.in
Photo : Scroll.in
