Haryana, Andhra Pradesh Draft Voter Rolls Show Significant Exclusions
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
The draft voter rolls for Haryana and Andhra Pradesh, published as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), show significant exclusions of electors. This is crucial as it affects the electoral rolls ahead of upcoming elections, and the claims and objections period allows for corrections.
Background
The Election Commission of India conducts periodic Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to update them. This process involves enumeration, claims, and objections to ensure accurate voter lists.
Key facts
In Haryana, 16.4% of the electorate was excluded in the draft voter rolls, reducing the total from 2.1 crore to 1.7 crore.
In Andhra Pradesh, 10.8% of electors were excluded, with the draft roll listing 3.7 crore electors after deletion of 44.9 lakh names.
In Haryana, deletions included 3.7% (7.7 lakh) marked as dead, 11.7% (24.1 lakh) as permanently shifted/absent/untraceable, and 1% (2 lakh) as enrolled at multiple places.
In Andhra Pradesh, 3.7% were found deceased, 5.3% permanently shifted/absent/untraceable, and 1.8% enrolled at multiple places.
The enumeration forms were not collected for 10.6% in Andhra and 16.4% in Haryana, attributed to electors enrolled elsewhere, not found by BLOs, missed deadlines, or unwillingness to register.
Genuine electors can be added back during the claims and objections period from July 31 to Aug 30 by filing Form 6 with a declaration.
The draft rolls were published as part of phase 3 of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Prelims pointers
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls
- Form 6 for claims and objections
- Booth Level Officers (BLOs)
- Election Commission of India
- Representation of the People Act, 1950
- Haryana and Andhra Pradesh
- Dates: May 14 (start of SIR), July 24 (deadline), July 31-Aug 30 (claims period)
Mains angles
- Discuss the significance of electoral roll revision in ensuring free and fair elections.
- Critically examine the challenges in the electoral roll revision process, such as deletions and exclusions.
- Analyze the role of the Election Commission in maintaining accurate voter lists.