Election Commission of India to Launch Phase III of Voter List Revision Covering 22 States and UTs
ECI set to roll out phase III of SIR in ‘coming days’; to cover 22 States, UTs
The Hindu
Image: The Hindu
The Election Commission of India (ECI) plans to initiate phase three of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters' list, covering 22 States and Union Territories (UTs) with nearly 40 crore electors. This rollout follows the completion of recent Assembly elections and aims to enhance the accuracy of electoral rolls across the country.
- 01Phase III of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) will cover 22 States and UTs.
- 02Approximately 40 crore electors will be included in this revision.
- 03Previous phases have pruned the voters' list by 10.2%, removing over 60 lakh deceased voters.
- 04Political opposition has raised concerns regarding the ECI's motives behind the SIR.
- 05Preparatory work for the SIR was mandated by the ECI to commence in April.
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The Election Commission of India (ECI) is preparing to launch phase three of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters' list, which is expected to cover 22 States and Union Territories (UTs), encompassing nearly 40 crore electors. This decision comes after the completion of Assembly elections in several states, including Kerala, Assam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. The ECI had previously conducted SIR in 10 States and 3 UTs, resulting in a significant cleanup of the electoral rolls. The combined voters' list has been reduced by 10.2%, with over 66 lakh deceased voters removed, including the highest numbers from Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Despite the ECI's claims of identifying ineligible voters, opposition parties have criticized the initiative, suggesting it may target voters not aligned with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The ECI had directed the respective States and UTs to complete preparatory work for the SIR, which was initially expected to start in April. The ongoing scrutiny and adjustments to the SIR schedule highlight the contentious nature of electoral reforms in India.
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The revision of the voters' list will ensure that electoral rolls are accurate, potentially affecting the voting rights of many citizens and the overall electoral process.
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