Why Only Citizens Can Be Voters: Opposition Protests SIR Nationwide

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, aiming to remove ineligible entries and update voter lists. However, several opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, RJD, and DMK, have protested against the process and approached the Supreme Court seeking intervention.

The Opposition’s Objection

The main objection raised by these parties is that SIR might remove certain non-citizens from voter lists. But according to the Indian Constitution, only citizens of India are eligible to vote. The revision process ensures that voter lists are accurate, removing names of individuals who have passed away, moved residence, or were included illegally. Such updates are crucial to protect the integrity of the democratic process.

Constitutional Backing

• Article 324 empowers the Election Commission to supervise, direct, and control elections for the Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President.
• Article 326 guarantees voting rights based on adult suffrage, i.e., every citizen of India who is at least 18 years old, not disqualified due to residence, mental incapacity, or criminal conduct, is entitled to be registered as a voter.
• Representation of the People Act, 1950 explicitly states in Section 16 that non-citizens cannot be registered as voters. Section 21 authorizes the Election Commission to periodically prepare and revise voter lists.

An illustrative case is Sonia Gandhi, whose name was initially included in the electoral roll in 1980 despite her Italian citizenship. Following objections, her name was removed in 1982. She later acquired Indian citizenship in April 1983, after which her name was reinstated in the voter list.

Importance of SIR

The last comprehensive SIR was conducted nearly 20 years ago (2002–2004) in states including Bihar, Delhi, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Over two decades, many entries have become outdated due to deaths, migration, or changes in residency. The SIR process ensures that only eligible Indian citizens are on the electoral rolls, safeguarding the country’s democratic integrity and national security.

Despite opposition protests, the Election Commission maintains that citizenship verification is non-negotiable for maintaining fair and lawful elections.