Clean Electoral Rolls Are Democracy’s Backbone CEC Defends SIR Amid Criticism
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar says a pure voters’ list is vital for democracy, rejecting Opposition claims against Special Intensive Revision.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday underlined that a “pure and lawful voters’ list” is fundamental to strengthening democratic institutions, responding to sustained criticism from Opposition parties over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Speaking at the opening session of the International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM)-2026, Kumar said electoral integrity begins with accurate rolls that include every eligible voter while excluding ineligible names. Citing the Bihar experience, he noted that no formal complaints were filed challenging inclusions or exclusions during the last roll revision exercise in the state.
The CEC also pointed out that the two-phase Bihar Assembly elections witnessed no repolls across nearly one lakh polling stations, which he said reflected the efficiency and credibility of the election machinery. According to him, the entire revision process was conducted under close public scrutiny, from roll purification to polling day operations.
Opposition parties have alleged that the SIR is being used to manipulate voter lists, a charge repeatedly rejected by both the Election Commission of India and the Union government. Phase II of the SIR began on November 4 last year in multiple states and Union Territories, including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, while a separate special revision is underway in Assam.
Kumar explained that the SIR follows established practice, noting that most states last carried out such intensive revisions between 2002 and 2004, similar to Bihar’s 2003 voter list being used as a benchmark. The exercise, he said, aims to verify voter details in accordance with law, including checks related to place of birth.
At the same event, Election Commissioner Sukhbir Singh Sandhu said public trust in election management bodies was invaluable and must be protected at all costs. Another Election Commissioner, Vivek Joshi, highlighted that IICDEM-2026 has brought together election officials, researchers and practitioners from across the world to exchange perspectives on democratic processes.
Nearly 100 delegates from about 70 countries are participating in the conference, making it the largest international gathering on election management ever hosted by India.
The Election Commission’s defence of SIR reflects growing concern over voter list credibility amid heightened political polarisation. While roll revisions are routine, transparency and communication remain crucial to prevent mistrust. As electoral processes face closer public and political scrutiny, how revisions are explained and implemented may prove just as important as the exercise itself in sustaining confidence in democracy.