Election Commission's New Voter Registration Rule Sparks Concern Over Excluded Voters' Families The Election Commission of India (EC) has introduced a new rule requiring applicants for online voter registration to provide details about the status of their parents or elderly relatives in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This change, implemented without public announcement or formal gazetted notification, has raised fears that the children of voters excluded from the SIR process may lose their ability to enroll as voters, potentially compromising their access to welfare benefits. The SIR, a contentious process aimed at updating electoral rolls, has led to the deletion of 5.58 crore names across states that have undergone the revision. In West Bengal alone, an estimated 27 lakh voters whose names were omitted from the SIR list are awaiting judicial decisions on their electoral status. These cases have been delayed for months, with tribunals struggling to resolve the disputes. The SIR has also drawn attention from United Nations rapporteurs, highlighting concerns about its impact on marginalized communities. The EC’s latest policy shift, which does not yet reflect in physical versions of Form 6 (the official application for voter registration), has been criticized for its secrecy and lack of transparency. Legal experts argue that the change risks placing the EC on "slippery legal ground," as it introduces a new criterion without clear justification or public consultation. The move has further fueled public anxiety, with critics accusing the EC of becoming an "imperious, insensitive institution" amid ongoing controversies.#west_bengal #united_nations #special_intensive_revision #election_commission_of_india #telegraph
