The Election Commission of India has kicked off Phase 2 of its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, expanding the recheck to 12 states and Union Territories. This initiative follows a similar process conducted in Bihar earlier this year. A significant aspect of this phase is the focus on the year 2003, which, along with 2002 or 2004 in some regions, has become a key reference point for voter list verification.
What if your name is already on the rolls from 2003 (or 2002/2004)? If your name appears on the older voter lists from these years, you generally won’t need to submit additional proof of identity or address to remain on the electoral rolls. Simply completing the enumeration form should suffice, as explained by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
What happens if your name is not on the old rolls? For individuals whose names are not found in the voter lists from 2002, 2003, or 2004, the process will likely mirror that in Bihar. You may need to demonstrate your connection to family members who are already on the older lists, using official ID documents. If this isn’t possible, you’ll need to provide proof of identity and residence to be included or remain on the electoral rolls, even if you’ve voted in recent elections. The Election Commission has provided a list of accepted documents, which is not exhaustive.
Why is 2003 so important? There are two primary reasons for selecting the 2002-2004 period as a benchmark:
- Last Comprehensive SIR: According to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, 2003 marked the year when the last Special Intensive Revision was conducted across all states and UTs. While subsequent revisions have occurred, they were typically conducted by the EC on its own and did not always require fresh proof submissions from citizens. Thus, the 2003 lists are considered a reliable cut-off point.
- Citizenship Verification: A key objective of the SIR is to identify and remove individuals who are not Indian citizens but are present on the voter rolls. Citizenship laws generally consider individuals born before July 1, 1987, as citizens. Since anyone on the 2002-2004 voter lists would have been of voting age, they would likely have been born before 1987, simplifying the citizenship verification process for those already on these older lists.
States and UTs Covered in Phase 2 SIR (Starting October 28):
- Andaman and Nicobar
- Chhattisgarh
- Goa
- Gujarat
- Kerala
- Lakshadweep
- Madhya Pradesh
- Puducherry
- Rajasthan
- Tamil Nadu
- Uttar Pradesh
- West Bengal
You can verify your name’s inclusion in the older lists by visiting your state or UT’s Chief Electoral Officer’s website.
Controversy and Clarity: The SIR process has faced criticism from opposition parties who allege it’s a move to disenfranchise voters, particularly due to initial requirements for specific documents. However, the Election Commission maintains that the SIR’s sole purpose is to ensure the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls, guaranteeing that only eligible citizens are registered to vote.