Most SIR Deletions Fall Under Reversible 'Absent/Shifted' Category

Electoral roll management in India rests on Article 324, which gives the Election Commission of India (ECI) superintendence, direction, and control over elections. This authority is plenary: the ECI itself announces the poll schedule, and it also adjudicates disputes over splits and mergers of recognised political parties under the Election Symbols Order. Two separate statutes operate here and are often confused. The Representation of the People Act, 1950 governs preparation and revision of electoral rolls, while the Representation of the People Act, 1951 governs the conduct of elections, election offences such as corrupt practices, and the adjudication of election disputes. A citizen can only contest an election if their name already appears on the electoral roll of some constituency, which is exactly why roll deletions matter beyond just the right to vote: they can also strip away eligibility to stand as a candidate.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is the most exhaustive form of roll revision, meant to be undertaken only once in about two decades. It involves door-to-door verification by Booth Level Officers using Form 6 for enrolments, Form 7 for objections and deletions, and Form 8 for corrections. Proposed deletions are classified under the ASDD framework: Absent, Shifted, Dead, or Duplicate. This classification places the burden of proving continued eligibility on the elector rather than the state, a structural feature that disadvantages migrant and mobile populations who may simply not be present when a Booth Level Officer visits.