Deletions in recent SIRs suggest arbitrary application of reasons
Recent electoral roll revisions in Telangana and Karnataka have sparked controversy due to high rates of voter deletions and inconsistent application of removal criteria. Critics and analysts point to a lack of clarity from the Election Commission regarding the definitions of 'shifted' versus 'absent' voters.
Why it matters
The integrity of electoral rolls is fundamental to democratic processes, and arbitrary deletions threaten voter disenfranchisement.
The draft electoral rolls released after the enumeration phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Telangana and Karnataka have not only raised concerns of aggressive deletions, but analysis indicates wide variations and arbitrariness in the reasons given for the deletion of names.
The two States have seen the highest share of deletions in the draft SIR rolls among the major States. Telangana and Karnataka, which had 3.38 crore and 5.54 crore electors before the SIR respectively, saw roughly one-fifth of their rolls getting culled. The Hindu has reported on the alarming levels of deletions in many of the constituencies in the two States.
A reason-wise analysis of the data showed extremes in the application of the four broad reasons cited for deletions — Shifted (or Permanently Shifted), Absent, Deceased, and Duplicate.
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