Electoral Transparency in India

Electoral transparency in India hinges on credible voter rolls, open political finance and accountable election management; the Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has spotlighted both the urgency and the pitfalls of large-scale data-cleanup exercises for voter lists.

Issues with Bihar SIR

• Legal and Constitutional Questions: Critics argue the SIR is arbitrary, exceeds statutory powers under RPA 1950/Rules 1960.
• Risk of Disenfranchisement: Large-scale deletions and strict proof requirements can wrongfully exclude genuine voters, especially migrants and poor households with limited documents, prompting strong judicial scrutiny.
• Documentation and Aadhaar Controversy: Initial exclusion of Aadhaar from the list of 11 acceptable documents to prove citizenship/residence ....