sir-to-be-rolled-out-in-remaining-states-soon-cec

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Saturday said the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls will soon be rolled out in the remaining states, asserting that “pure” electoral rolls form the bedrock of democracy.

Speaking on the eve of the Election Commission’s foundation day, also observed as National Voters’ Day, Kumar said the SIR exercise is currently being conducted “smoothly” in 12 states and Union Territories. He added that the revision has already been completed successfully in Bihar, while a separate special revision is under way in Assam.

“Pure electoral rolls are the bedrock of democracy. With this objective, the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls was initiated to ensure that every eligible elector’s name is included in the electoral roll and that every ineligible name is removed,” Kumar said.

Highlighting the outcome of the exercise in Bihar, the chief election commissioner said, “The most compelling testament to the success of the SIR in Bihar was that not a single appeal was filed against the final electoral roll, establishing its sanctity and credibility.”

Also read: Bengal SIR done in haste: Amartya Sen 

According to Kumar, elections conducted on this “strong foundation” recorded historic participation, with voter turnout reaching 67.13 per cent, the highest since 1951. He noted that women electors registered an unprecedented turnout of 71.78 per cent.

Kumar also stressed the role of voters, particularly the youth, in strengthening democracy. He urged young electors to vote without fail and to act as ambassadors of democratic values.

“I call upon our young electors to lead the fight against misinformation, disinformation and false narratives. For this, it is essential that they remain fully informed about electoral processes and the various initiatives of the Election Commission,” he said.

The Election Commission of India was established on January 25, 1950, a day before the country became a republic. National Voters’ Day has been observed annually for the past 16 years.