EC Sources Deny Dissent in Special Voter Roll Revision

The Cliff News | 2 October 2026

New Delhi – Amidst emerging questions surrounding the Election Commission's (EC) handling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, sources within the poll body have asserted that no Election Commissioner has recorded dissent on any decision since February 19, 2025. This stance directly counters recent reports alleging formal objections from Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.

The reports, which surfaced last week, indicated that Sandhu and Joshi had formally registered their objections a total of 14 times over a 10-month period concerning decisions and orders related to the SIR process, overseen by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. These objections reportedly spanned critical areas such as the centralisation of the ECINet electoral roll database, modifications to Form 6, and decisions on voter name deletions.

Unanimous Decisions Alleged

Sources close to the Election Commission, speaking to India Today, maintained that the SIR is a well-established and statutory process designed for the thorough revision of electoral rolls. They emphasized that all decisions made by the three-member poll body since February 19, 2025, have been reached through unanimous consensus.

The core objective of the SIR, as articulated by the EC, is to meticulously identify voters who are deceased, duplicates, fake, or have relocated, while simultaneously ensuring that all eligible citizens remain registered. This process aims to maintain the integrity and accuracy of the voter list.

Form 6 and Legal Scrutiny

Addressing specific concerns about Form 6, the application used by new voters and those seeking to add their names to the electoral rolls, EC sources clarified that there have been no alterations to the form itself. The process for new registrations and additions remains consistent.

Regarding the legal standing of the SIR, the commission's sources pointed to ongoing Supreme Court proceedings. They highlighted that the court has consistently allowed the SIR exercise to proceed without suspension. The court's stance has been to permit the revision, including voter declarations and mapping processes, while mandating the implementation of safeguards to protect voter interests.

Comprehensive Revision Process

The Election Commission has characterized the SIR as a comprehensive and long-standing initiative. Document verification is reportedly only required from voters born after 1987. Furthermore, the process employs software to identify errors in voter mapping, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the electoral rolls and preventing the inclusion of fraudulent entries.

Decentralized Operations and Official Compliance

Crucially, the EC has stressed that the authority for adding and deleting names from electoral rolls rests at the local level, managed by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs). This decentralized approach means such decisions are not made unilaterally by the Chief Election Commissioner.

In a significant assertion, sources revealed that none of the approximately 25,000 EROs and AEROs involved in the SIR process have lodged any formal complaints regarding its execution. This suggests a high level of operational compliance and acceptance at the ground level.

Addressing Specific Concerns

Sources also indicated that some of the concerns raised about the SIR have pertained to individual cases. To ensure thorough verification, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have been instructed to visit voters' homes at least three times. This protocol includes cases where voters are not present during initial visits or have reportedly moved.

In relation to a reported issue involving 97 voters in Goa who were initially omitted from the final electoral rolls, EC sources attributed the oversight to a technical glitch. While 88 names have since been reinstated, it was clarified that three individuals were identified as Portuguese citizens, and six were abroad at the time of verification. The remaining cases are undergoing further review.

The EC also addressed allegations by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi concerning the alleged removal of 727 voters from Bela Estate. EC sources stated that the process of adding new names in Delhi is still active. They further explained that when BLOs visited Bela Estate, no residents were present, raising questions about the feasibility of obtaining signatures or verification from individuals who were not available.

Voter Re-inclusion Queries

On the demand to re-include approximately 11 crore voters into the electoral rolls, the commission's sources clarified that this would involve reinstating names that were removed during the verification phase, but whose re-verification has not yet been completed. This suggests a rigorous process for re-adding names previously removed.