Right to vote is bedrock of democracy. SIR must be rethought or abandoned

The Indian Express published a scathing investigative report, exposing an unprecedented erosion of the democratic right to vote in India. Two Election Commissioners formally lodged objections against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's unilateral changes to voter registration forms and mass deletions during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Delhi's voter roll saw 54.6% of existing voters either struck off or served with notices demanding proof of authenticity. Over 80 lakh registered voters in Delhi, out of 1.45 crore, are under the ECI's scrutiny, with approximately 47.5 lakh under deletion categories. Nationwide, deletions could potentially wipe out 12 to 13 crore voters, with Maharashtra alone facing the loss of up to 2 crore voters.

This draconian purge has led to the disenfranchisement of up to 15 crore citizens, a worrying trend given the country's population has grown from 99 crore in 2024 to 103 crore today. Prominent figures, including the Delhi Chief Minister, Foreign Minister, and high-ranking officials, have found themselves on the deletion list, raising questions about the process's legitimacy.

The ECI's software has reportedly eliminated legitimate voters, denying them essential benefits like dialysis and transplants. The Supreme Court has upheld the legality of the SIR exercise, yet former Chief Election Commissioners have criticized its fairness. Critics argue that treating the 2002 electoral roll as an unassailable baseline for voter mapping, as done by the ECI, has resulted in numerous incorrect deletions, casting doubt on the credibility of their algorithms.