Why in news?
ECI has announced a special summary revision of electoral rolls in 17 States/UTs with January 1, 2027 as qualifying date.
UPSC Relevance
- Prelims: Articles 324–326, RP Act 1950 (Sections 14–24), Registration of Electors Rules 1960, qualifying dates, National Voters’ Day.
- Mains GS2: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
What is a Special Summary Revision (SSR)?
- Meaning: A routine, usually annual, update of the existing electoral roll. The current roll itself is published as the draft roll, and people can file claims and objections.
- Timing: Normally held in the last quarter of the year with January 1 of the next year as the qualifying date. The final roll is published in early January, just before National Voters’ Day (January 25).
- Who can be added: Anyone who turns 18 on the qualifying date and is ordinarily resident in the constituency.
- Process: Publication of draft roll → claims and objections (usually 30 days) → special campaign days at polling stations → verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) → disposal by Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) → final publication.
- Key feature: Names already on the roll stay unless someone objects with reasons and the person is given notice and a hearing. The burden is not on every existing voter.
Constitutional and legal provisions
| Provision | What it says |
| Article 324 | Superintendence, direction and control of preparation of electoral rolls is vested in the ECI |
| Article 325 | One general electoral roll for every constituency; no one excluded on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex |
| Article 326 | Elections on adult suffrage – every citizen aged 18 or above (61st Amendment, 1988 reduced it from 21) |
| Sec 16 | Disqualification for registration – not a citizen, of unsound mind (declared by court), or disqualified for corrupt practices |
| Sec 19 and 20 | Conditions for registration – 18 years of age and ordinary residence in the constituency |
| Sec 21 | Preparation and revision of rolls; Sec 21(3) allows the ECI to order a special revision at any time, with reasons recorded |
| Sec 22 and 23 | Correction of entries and inclusion of names by the ERO |
| Sec 24 | Appeals – first appeal to the District Magistrate (or designated officer), second appeal to the Chief Electoral Officer |
| Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 (Rule 25) | Roll may be revised intensively, summarily, or partly each, as the ECI directs |
How is it different from intensive and special revision?
| Basis | Summary Revision | Intensive Revision | Special Revision / SIR |
| Starting point | Existing roll is the draft roll | Roll prepared afresh | Ordered under Sec 21(3); in the SIR, roll rebuilt through enumeration forms |
| Field work | Limited; BLO verification of claims | House-to-house enumeration by BLOs | House-to-house distribution and collection of forms |
| Burden on voter | Low – only new or changed entries need forms | Moderate – enumeration done by officials | High – existing voters had to fill forms and, in many cases, give documents |
| Frequency | Usually every year | Rare (last broad round around 2002–04) | Any time, for reasons recorded |
| Risk | Duplicate and dead voters may remain | Time and manpower heavy | Wrongful exclusion of genuine voters |
Practice MCQ
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Representation of the People Act, 1950:
1. The Election Commission may direct a special revision of the electoral roll of any constituency at any time, for reasons to be recorded.
2. 1st January is the only qualifying date for enrolment of a new voter.
3. A second appeal against the order of the Electoral Registration Officer lies with the Chief Electoral Officer of the State.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (b). Statement 2 is incorrect – since the 2021 amendment, there are four qualifying dates: 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October.
Q2. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: In a summary revision, the existing electoral roll is published as the draft roll for claims and objections.
Statement II: An intensive revision involves preparing the electoral roll afresh through house-to-house enumeration.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
(b) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
(c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
(d) Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
Answer: (b). Both describe two different methods of revision; the nature of intensive revision does not explain how summary revision works.
Mains Practice Question
Q. Revision of electoral rolls must balance the purity of rolls with the inclusion of every eligible voter. In light of the recent Special Intensive Revision, examine the legal framework for revision of electoral rolls in India and discuss where the burden of proving eligibility should lie. (15 marks, 250 words)
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