Ensure no genuine voter is struck off electoral rolls: parliamentary panel to EC, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• Parliamentary panel urges Election Commission (EC) to ensure no genuine voter is excluded during Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
• The Parliamentary Standing Committee emphasizes fair, transparent, and inclusive revision of electoral rolls.
• SIR has concluded in 11 States/UTs and is set to begin in 22 other States.
• In West Bengal, around 60.06 lakh voters with “logical discrepancies” are under adjudication.

Detailed Insights:

• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice presented its report in Parliament, addressing concerns raised by political parties regarding voter list revisions.
• The committee advocates for adequate safeguards for vulnerable groups like senior citizens, persons with disabilities, economically weaker sections, and migrant populations during the SIR process.
• The EC will conduct house-to-house verification by booth-level officers and upload documents on ECINET with restricted access, involving political parties through booth-level agents.
• The committee recommends robust monitoring mechanisms at all levels to ensure uniform implementation of the revision process, adhering to data privacy and security protocols on ECINET.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Special Intensive Revision (SIR): An intensive process to update and revise electoral rolls, ensuring accuracy and inclusivity.
• ECINET (Election Commission Integrated Network): A secure network used by the Election Commission for data management and communication.
• Electoral Roll: A list of persons registered to vote in a particular constituency or area.