Irregularities in Electoral Rolls
Why in news?
Several instances of significant errors and alleged manipulation in voter lists have surfaced during the preparation for Legislative Council and local body elections in Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, leading to protests and official inquiries.
Key points
- Unusual names and details like 'Ram ne Yadav ko maara' and 'B.Com' in place of father's name appeared in UP Legislative Council voter list.
- Protests erupted in Mumbai demanding withdrawal of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, arrest of CEC, and repeal of the 2023 law on EC appointments.
- In Pilibhit, UP, legal action was ordered against officials for discrepancies where voter EPIC numbers displayed details of other electors.
- Allegations that SIR process disenfranchises marginalized communities and that the ECI acts in favour of the ruling party.
- In Andhra Pradesh, 69 villages in the Amaravati capital region are excluded from local body polls due to a separate governance framework.
Background & context
Electoral rolls are the basis for conducting fair elections. Discrepancies or intentional manipulation can lead to disenfranchisement and undermine democratic processes. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a process to update voter lists, but concerns have been raised about its implementation and potential impact on voter rights. The 2023 law mentioned relates to the appointment of Election Commissioners, which critics argue impacts the ECI's independence.
★ Prelims fact capsule
The Allahabad graduate constituency was among those affected by voter list errors in Uttar Pradesh.
✎ Mains relevance
GS Paper II: Governance, Polity (Elections, Electoral Reforms, Role of ECI, Independence of Institutions)