Mon Jul 07 20:17:10 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is implementing a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, starting in Bihar before being rolled out nationwide. While aimed at removing duplicate entries and ensuring only eligible citizens vote, the new rules raise significant concerns. These include potentially disenfranchising vulnerable populations (poor, Dalit, Muslim, tribal, and migrant) who may lack required documentation, insufficient public awareness campaigns, reliance on potentially biased local officials, and a lack of transparency regarding the removal of names from the rolls. These concerns are exacerbated by existing public mistrust in the ECI and recent decisions to shorten the retention period of polling station footage, raising questions about the fairness and accessibility of the electoral process.

**News Article:**

**ECI’s Electoral Roll Revision Sparks Disenfranchisement Fears Ahead of Bihar Elections**

**New Delhi, July 8, 2025** – The Election Commission of India (ECI) is facing criticism over its newly implemented Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which began in Bihar in preparation for the upcoming Assembly elections and will eventually expand nationwide. While the ECI states the SIR aims to eliminate duplicate voter entries and ensure only eligible citizens participate in elections, concerns are mounting that the new rules could disproportionately disenfranchise marginalized communities.

The SIR requires voters not on the 2003 electoral rolls to provide extensive documentation, including proof of birth for themselves and, depending on their age, their parents. Critics argue that this poses a significant barrier for individuals and families from poor, Dalit, Muslim, tribal, and migrant backgrounds, many of whom lack the required formal documentation.

“Many of these communities face historical gaps in documentation,” explains Krishangi Sinha, a researcher with Lokniti-CSDS. “Demanding such stringent proof will inevitably lead to the unintentional exclusion of eligible voters.”

Concerns also revolve around a lack of public awareness campaigns to explain the new requirements, particularly in rural areas. Limited understanding of the process, coupled with complex paperwork and a tight deadline of September 30 for the final voter list, could lead to confusion and errors.

Furthermore, the system relies heavily on local officials who wield significant discretionary power during the verification process. This raises the risk of inconsistencies and biased judgments, particularly in areas with limited oversight.

Adding to the controversy, the ECI has not committed to publishing the list of names being removed from the rolls nor created a transparent system for applicants to track their submissions. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to monitor the process, identify errors, or challenge wrongful exclusions.

These concerns are compounded by existing public mistrust in the ECI. A recent Lokniti-CSDS survey revealed that a significant percentage of respondents reported limited or no trust in the ECI. Recent decisions, such as the premature deletion of polling station footage within 45 days of election results, further erode public confidence.

“While efforts to improve efficiency are welcome, the ECI’s opaque actions and the implementation of these new documentation rules without sufficient public awareness risk undermining the integrity and inclusivity of the electoral process,” warns Sanjay Kumar, Co-Director of Lokniti-CSDS. Observers call for the ECI to ensure greater transparency, conduct extensive outreach, and address the potential for bias in the application of the new rules to safeguard the voting rights of all citizens.

Read More