370m Voter Forms Delivered in 12 States Amid Electoral Roll Revision Row

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The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made significant progress in the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which kicked off on November 4. As of the latest update, a staggering 99.41% of Enumeration Forms (EFs) have been printed and 72.66% distributed across 12 states and Union Territories. The exercise aims to update the electoral rolls with over 509 million registered electors, with 370 million voter forms already delivered. The ECI has emphasized that the SIR is a routine process aimed at ensuring accuracy and inclusion in the electoral roll. However, the revision process has been marred by controversy in states like Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, where opposition parties have questioned the timing and transparency of the exercise. They have raised concerns about inconsistencies in voter deletions and transfers, which have led to calls for greater scrutiny. The matter is currently before the Supreme Court, where a petition by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and several opposition parties has been filed. The court has previously stressed the importance of transparency in electoral data to maintain public confidence. The ECI has assured that the enumeration phase will continue until December 4, followed by verification and claims processes. With 5.33 million Booth Level Officers and 7.64 million Booth Level Agents engaged in the exercise, the commission is working to ensure a smooth and accurate update of the electoral rolls.