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Settled but Evolving
In a deeply polarised polity, a political reading of the SIR was inevitable. Its legality was challenged through PILs and by some state governments before being settled. As expected, electoral rolls in SIR states have seen notable pruning. But the publication of final rolls is only part of the story. The past few months have seen all stakeholders grappling with an evolving SIR, with little recent precedent to fall back on.
Different Revision
SIR is qualitatively and procedurally distinct from the annual special summary revision (SSR), with key additions such as mapping electors to the previous SIR of over two decades ago and submission of unique enumeration forms. Provisions under Article 326 of the Constitution-covering eligibility, including citizenship-are under close scrutiny, with special and micro-observers in the field. Booth-level officers, largely part-time schoolteachers, face pressure to quickly learn and execute new procedures, while even senior electoral officials continue to grapple with the demands of the exercise
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Political parties have learnt to express less shock and awe as slimmer final rolls got published state after state, after discounting the absentee, shifted and dead, and after checking on basic eligibility. Parties are reconciled to fight the upcoming state polls based on post-SIR electoral roll, and recalibrating strategies. Whether they make SIR a campaign issue is a political call; the Bihar experience informs that picking holes in election management may not exactly yield profit. Appointment of booth level agents demands resources which many political groups might not be able to afford.
Managers Modify
Despite no appeals against Bihar’s final electoral roll post-SIR, the second phase has tested election managers. Alongside extensive training, the Election Commission has made key course corrections. It dropped the requirement for specific documents at the enumeration stage, allowing other relevant proofs, and showed flexibility in revising timelines. The plan to publish draft rolls by December 9 and final rolls by February 7 has been recalibrated, with officials recognising the need for more time for a thorough, people-friendly exercise. This learning should inform timelines in the next SIR phase.
Perturbed and Occupied
The Supreme Court has found itself drawn into fraught disputes between combative state governments and the Election Commission, noting with concern the trust deficit in implementing SIR. In Bihar, it directed the use of para-legal volunteers to assist voters. In West Bengal, in an unusual move, it ordered judicial officers to adjudicate claims and objections, and later set up judicial benches for appeals-roles typically assigned to election officials. These judicial entrants required training to handle lakhs of cases, many of which remain pending. The court had also allowed Aadhaar to be considered for enrolment, while clarifying it is not proof of citizenship, and has enabled extensions of key SIR deadlines in states.
Alert for Citizens
Citizens are learning that the franchise granted by the Constitution demands periodic, careful upkeep. A new term-‘logical discrepancy’-has gained currency, flagging inconsistencies in voter details that require verification. Migrant urban populations are often found lagging in updating their electoral records, while technology flags errors with little regard for individual circumstances. The onus is on citizens to stay vigilant about their inclusion; the act of voting comes next. .
Easier Next Time
The second phase of SIR has pushed all sides to adapt, with signs of both flexibility-voluntary and compelled-and innovation. The next round, covering the remaining 23 states and UTs, may be imminent and should bring fewer uncertainties and less strain after a steep learning curve. But fresh questions may still arise.
