ECI to Begin Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls in Telangana

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls will soon commence in Telangana, with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar expressing confidence that the state will emerge as a national exemplar in conducting this comprehensive process. This initiative underscores the ECI's commitment to maintaining accurate and purified voter lists, ensuring that only eligible citizens are enrolled while removing inaccuracies. Kumar highlighted the critical importance of this exercise during his address to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) across the state, positioning Telangana to demonstrate exemplary standards of transparency and efficiency to the rest of the country.

Kumar urged BLOs to emulate the successful model implemented in Bihar, where a large-scale SIR was executed flawlessly, covering approximately 7.5 crore electors. He emphasized that the Bihar exercise resulted in zero complaints, eliminating any need for repolling, recounting, or verification of VVPAT slips, attributing this achievement to the unwavering dedication of BLOs and polling staff. By replicating these high standards of accuracy and professionalism, Telangana's upcoming SIR is expected to set a new benchmark, ushering the state into an advanced phase of electoral management despite its vast geographical expanse, which surpasses that of several nations including Canada.

The primary objective of the SIR in Telangana is to thoroughly cleanse the electoral rolls by systematically identifying and deleting entries of deceased individuals, migrated voters, and duplicates, while concurrently facilitating the enrollment of all newly eligible citizens. This dual approach aims to enhance the integrity and reliability of the voter database, preventing discrepancies that could undermine the democratic process. Kumar stressed that purified electoral rolls are indispensable for sustaining a robust and healthy democracy, allowing only genuine Indian citizens to exercise their franchise.

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During interactions with BLOs, Kumar pointed out persistent challenges such as urban voter apathy, which contributes significantly to lower turnout percentages in cities compared to rural areas, where voters demonstrate remarkable enthusiasm by queuing patiently to cast their ballots. He praised rural participation as a model for the nation, calling for greater civic engagement in urban centers to bolster overall polling rates.

On a broader note, Kumar highlighted India's ascending role in global democratic practices, announcing that the ECI will assume leadership of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) for a one-year term starting December 2025. This development reflects international acknowledgment of India's electoral system as one of the most credible and innovative worldwide, further motivating efforts to perfect processes like the SIR in states such as Telangana.

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