Election Commission's Voter List Purge: A Step Towards Electoral Integrity

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has voiced strong support for the Election Commission's move to clean up voter lists through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative, which is set to roll out its second phase across 12 States and Union Territories.

Citing this as a crucial measure to uphold the integrity of the electoral process, Rijiju emphasized that removing names of deceased, migrated, and non-citizen voters is necessary for a clean and legitimate voting list. He urged opposition parties to back this initiative rather than challenge the Election Commission's efforts. Rijiju remarked, “If fake voters, who are not Indian citizens, remain in the voter list, it will be inaccurate. This step is commendable and crucial for the proper conduct of elections.”

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced that final voter lists will be published on February 7, 2026, after a series of procedural steps, including an Enumeration Phase, claims and objections period, and verification process. This comprehensive exercise aims to ensure transparent electoral rolls, reflecting the genuine voter base.