EC Orders Special Drive to Enrol Eligible Voters

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed election authorities in 20 states and Union Territories, including Bihar and West Bengal, where the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has been completed, to conduct a special drive to enrol eligible voters whose names may have been left out of the revised lists. The initiative will also focus on young and first-time voters. Officials have been instructed to compare the pre-SIR and current electoral rolls, identify missing names and help eligible individuals submit Form 6 for enrolment.

The directive comes amid concerns and criticism over the deletion of around 13 crore names from draft electoral rolls during the SIR exercise. Opposition parties have alleged that eligible voters were excluded, while the Election Commission has maintained that the revision follows established procedures. District election officials and Booth Level Officers have been asked to oversee the special drive and facilitate the registration process to ensure that eligible voters can apply for inclusion in the electoral rolls. The reported figure of 13 crore refers to names removed from draft rolls and does not mean all those individuals were eligible voters wrongly excluded.