Paper: GS – II, Subject: Polity, Topic: Elections and RPA, Issue: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) on Electoral Rolls.
Context:
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls initiated by the Election Commission of India (EC) in Bihar ahead of the upcoming legislative assembly elections.
Key Takeaways:
What is an Electoral Roll?
- Article 324 of the Constitution vests the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for elections to Parliament and State legislatures with the ECI.
- Article 326 states that every citizen not less than 18 years of age is entitled to be registered as a voter (elector).
- The electoral rolls are prepared by the ECI as per the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (RP Act).
- Section 16 of the RP Act disqualifies a non-citizen from being enrolled.
- Section 19 requires that the person is not less than 18 years of age on the qualifying date and is ordinarily resident in the constituency.
- Section 20 of the RP Act defines “ordinarily resident,” specifying that owning property in a constituency does not automatically qualify someone as an ordinary resident.
- However, a person “temporarily absent” from their residence continues to be considered an “ordinarily resident.”
| What is the Election Commission of India? About: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering Union and State election processes in India. It was established in accordance with the Constitution on 25th January 1950 (celebrated as National Voters’ Day). The secretariat of the commission is in New Delhi. The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, and State Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country.It is not concerned with the elections to panchayats and municipalities in the states. For this, the Constitution of India provides for a separate State Election Commission.Constitutional Provisions: Part XV (Article 324-329): It deals with elections and establishes a commission for these matters. Article 324: Superintendence, direction and control of elections to be vested in an Election Commission. |
Implication of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) on Electoral Rolls:
The SIR process is a significant step towards ensuring accurate and fair electoral representation in Bihar. However, potential pitfalls such as excluding vulnerable populations necessitate careful execution and oversight to uphold democratic principles.
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