Why the SIR needs to be completely digitised

Challenges with the Current Electoral Roll System

The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) relies on legacy rolls from 2002-2004, which were manually created and prone to errors. Despite advancements in technology, these outdated records are still in use, causing significant issues in the electoral system.

Problems with Legacy Rolls

Incomplete and ambiguous information with varying standards across states and constituencies.
Issues like missing EPIC numbers, house numbers, and widespread spelling errors.
Random inspections reveal alarming anomalies, such as entries implying polygamy.
The search interface for electoral rolls is ineffective, leading to unverified and inconsistent data.

Limitations of the Current System

The electoral rolls exist only in paper form, preventing effective verification and consistency checks.
The ECINet system allows comprehensive digital services, but legacy data is not integrated efficiently.
BLOs are limited in their role, mainly distributing and collecting paper Enumeration Forms (EFs) without proper digitization skills.

Proposed Reforms for an Improved Electoral System

Digitization and Integration

Convert all State/UT rolls into a fully searchable digital format with English as the standard for searchable data.
Integrate old records with reliable datasets like Aadhaar, PAN, and driving license records using robust APIs.

Enhanced Voter Categorization

Classify voters into stable-address voters, frequent movers, and those with immigration/nationality issues.

Online Submission of Forms

Ensure all Enumeration Forms are submitted online, supported by mobile digital kiosks with trained personnel.

Complete Digitization of Processes

Document verification, uploads, and post-validation checks to be conducted entirely online with transparent workflows.

Conclusion

A fully digital system is crucial for eliminating the flaws of legacy SIR and enabling seamless integration through ECINet. These reforms are straightforward and feasible, aiming to transform SIR 2026 into a technology-driven, trustworthy national exercise. A digital overhaul is imperative to ensure transparency, verification, and integrity of the electoral system.