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 crucial update follows a similar exercise conducted in Bihar earlier this year. A significant aspect of this revision is the focus on the year 2003, with some states also considering 2002 or 2004 as cut-off years.
If your name is already present on the voter rolls from around 2003 (or the specified cut-off year for your state/UT), you generally won’t need to submit additional documentation to remain on the list. Simply completing the enumeration form should suffice. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar highlighted this point during a press conference in Delhi.
For those whose names are not found on these older voter lists, the process will likely mirror the one in Bihar. This means you might need to provide proof of identity and residence. If your parents are on the older lists, you can potentially prove your relationship using an ID document. If not, a list of acceptable documents for proving citizenship and residency has been provided by the Election Commission, though it’s noted that this list isn’t exhaustive and may be expanded.
States and UTs Included in Phase 2 of SIR:
- Andaman and Nicobar
- Chhattisgarh
- Goa
- Gujarat
- Kerala
- Lakshadweep
- Madhya Pradesh
- Puducherry
- Rajasthan
- Tamil Nadu
- Uttar Pradesh
- West Bengal
Why is 2003 a Key Year?
The significance of 2003 (or the 2002-2004 period) stems from two primary reasons. Firstly, it marks the last time a comprehensive SIR was conducted across all states and UTs. While subsequent revisions have occurred, they were typically initiated by the EC and did not always require individuals to submit fresh proof of identity. Secondly, the SIR aims to identify and remove foreign nationals illegally present on voter lists, and using the 2003 rolls helps in a preliminary citizenship check. Generally, anyone born before July 1, 1987, is considered a citizen, and individuals on the 2002-2004 lists would likely meet this criterion, having been at least 18 years old by those years.
Controversy and Clarifications
The SIR process has faced criticism from opposition parties, who have raised concerns that the requirement for specific documents could disenfranchise eligible voters. However, the Election Commission maintains that the objective of the SIR is to ensure that only eligible citizens are included in the electoral rolls and that no ineligible individuals remain on the list.