Summary on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by the Election Commission of India (ECI)
The Indian Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
🔹 SIR: What is it?
The Election Commission of India (ECI) uses a procedure called Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to make sure the electoral rolls are accurate and comprehensive prior to elections.
Compared to the standard yearly revision, it is more concentrated and detailed.
Goal:
to make corrections and updates to the voter list.
to include newly eligible voters who are at least eighteen years old.
to remove the names of voters who have moved, died, or are ineligible.
to fix mistakes in addresses, names, or other information.
to guarantee the election rolls are inclusive and pure.
🔹 When is it held?
usually carried out prior to significant elections (Lok Sabha/Assembly).
Additionally carried out in locations where:
There are widespread migrations.
complaints about duplicate or absent names.
Administrative or demographic shifts took place.
What distinguishes it from the Annual Revision?
Aspect: Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Annual Revision
Frequency: annually, as needed, prior to significant polls
Depth Regular updates Comprehensive field validation
Prioritise general updating, accuracy, inclusivity, and error correction
Method: Door-to-door verification, limited residence visits, and special camps
🔹 Procedures:
Draft Roll Publication: The initial list of voters is made public.
Claims & Objections: Additions and adjustments may be requested by citizens.
Door-to-Door Verification: BLOs go to residences to confirm information.
Final Roll Publication: The final roll is released following adjustments.
Forms Employed:
Form 6: New voter registration.
Form 7: Name deletion.
Form 8: Entry correction.
Transposition within the same constituency (Form 8A).
Legal Foundation:
carried out in accordance with the 1950 Representation of the People Act and the 1960 Registration of Electors Rules.
🔹 UPSC’s significance
demonstrates ECI’s dedication to free and fair elections.
A section on themes related to good governance and electoral reforms.
“Salient features of the Representation of the People’s Act” and “Role of Election Commission” are pertinent under Polity (GS Paper 2).
The role of the Indian Election Commission (ECI):
- Election Procedure: Elections for the Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and the positions of President and Vice President of India are held by the ECI. Election timetables, polling places, and counting methods are all determined by it.
- Model Code of Conduct (MCC) implementation: guarantees that candidates and political parties adhere to ethical campaign procedures. stops the abuse of funds or authority during elections.
- Electoral Roll preparation: creates, maintains, and modifies each constituency’s list of eligible voters.
- Political Party Registration and Recognition: creates new political party registrations. Depending on how well they do, they are given the status of national or state parties.
- Tracking Election Spending: monitors politicians’ campaign spending and makes sure it stays within certain bounds.
- Utilising VVPATs and EVMs: guarantees the use of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for transparent and impenetrable voting.
- Election-Related Matters: resolves conflicts pertaining to elections, political symbols, or candidate disqualification.
- Campaigns for Voter Awareness: promotes voting through awareness campaigns like SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation).