1.85 lakh voters deleted from Manipur, Sikkim electoral rolls after SIR
2-minute summary
Following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, the final photo electoral rolls for Manipur and Sikkim were published on September 6, 2026. A total of 1.85 lakh voters were deleted from the rolls across both states: 1,32,456 in Manipur (6.3% of its electorate) and 52,614 in Sikkim (11.2% of its electorate). In Manipur, the revision took place amidst deep concerns from Kuki-Zo groups, who feared that members displaced by the ethnic conflict since May 2023 would be disenfranchised. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Manipur clarified that deletions were based on non-receipt of enumeration forms, shifting, deaths, and duplicate entries. Interestingly, Manipur's final roll shows that female voters (10,06,962) outnumber male voters (9,53,350), with a gender ratio of 1,056. In Sikkim, the deletions were primarily driven by unmapped electors and 'logical discrepancies' identified by the Election Commission's digital system, followed by statutory verification hearings.
Why it's in the news
The Election Commission of India published the final photo electoral rolls for Manipur and Sikkim after a Special Intensive Revision (SIR), resulting in the deletion of over 1.85 lakh voters. This has triggered debates regarding the potential disenfranchisement of conflict-displaced populations in Manipur and the technical accuracy of digital voter mapping in Sikkim.
Background and context
The preparation and maintenance of accurate electoral rolls are fundamental to the conduct of free and fair elections in India. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Election Commission of India (ECI) periodically conducts Special Summary Revisions (SSR) and Special Intensive Revisions (SIR) to update voter lists by adding new eligible voters and deleting those who have died, shifted, or are duplicate entries. However, executing this in conflict-affected regions presents severe challenges. Manipur has been gripped by ethnic conflict since May 3, 2023, causing the internal displacement of tens of thousands of people. Displaced persons often lack access to physical addresses or communication channels, making them highly vulnerable to administrative exclusion during door-to-door or form-based verification processes. This highlights the delicate balance the ECI must maintain between cleaning electoral rolls and ensuring the protection of voting rights for vulnerable, displaced citizens.
Constitutional provisions
- Article 324 — Vests the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls, and the conduct of all elections to Parliament and State Legislatures, in the Election Commission of India.
- Article 325 — Mandates that no person shall be ineligible for inclusion in a general electoral roll on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or any of them.
- Article 326 — Establishes that elections to the House of the People and the Legislative Assemblies of States shall be on the basis of adult suffrage.
Committees and reports
- Dinesh Goswami Committee on Electoral Reforms — Recommended steps for improving the accuracy of electoral rolls, including the introduction of multi-purpose photo identity cards to prevent bogus voting and arbitrary deletions.
Previous UPSC questions on this theme
- Prelims GS-1 2017 — Right to vote and to be elected in India is a (a) Fundamental Right (b) Natural Right (c) Constitutional Right (d) Legal Right
Mains practice: The preparation of accurate electoral rolls is a cornerstone of free and fair elections. In this context, discuss the challenges faced by the Election Commission of India in maintaining updated voter lists in regions affected by internal conflict and displacement.
The Election Commission of India (ECI), under Article 324 of the Constitution, is mandated to ensure free, fair, and inclusive elections. A vital component of this mandate is the preparation of accurate electoral rolls. However, conducting Special Intensive Revisions (SIR) in conflict-torn regions like Manipur presents unique democratic and administrative challenges.
• **Challenges of Internal Displacement**: Ethnic conflicts, such as the one in Manipur since May 2023, lead to mass internal displacement. Displaced persons living in temporary relief camps or outside their home districts face severe difficulties in submitting physical enumeration forms or establishing physical presence during door-to-door verification, leading to high rates of deletion.
• **Risk of Inadvertent Disenfranchisement**: Large-scale deletions (e.g., 6.3% in Manipur) due to 'non-receipt of forms' or being marked as 'shifted/absent' can lead to systemic exclusion of vulnerable, displaced minorities, undermining their fundamental democratic rights under Article 326.
• **Administrative and Verification Hurdles**: Verifying 'logical discrepancies' and mapping voters (as seen in Sikkim's 11.2% deletion) requires robust digital infrastructure. In remote or conflict-affected areas, poor connectivity and physical insecurity hinder physical hearings and verification processes.
• **Trust Deficit and Polarization**: In deeply polarized environments, administrative exercises like voter deletion are often viewed with suspicion by minority groups, who fear deliberate political marginalization.
• **Statutory Balancing Act**: The ECI must balance Section 22 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (which allows deletion of temporary/shifted/dead electors) with the constitutional guarantee of universal adult suffrage.
To safeguard democratic inclusivity, the ECI must adopt flexible, technology-driven, and empathetic verification protocols for displaced populations, such as setting up special registration desks at relief camps and coordinating with local civil society to prevent inadvertent disenfranchisement.
Prelims practice questions
Q1. With reference to the revision of electoral rolls in India, consider the following statements: 1. The preparation and revision of electoral rolls are primarily governed by the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. 2. The Election Commission of India has the constitutional authority to order a special revision of electoral rolls in any constituency. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B. Statement 1 is incorrect because the preparation and revision of electoral rolls are governed by the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (not the 1951 Act, which deals with the actual conduct of elections, post-election disputes, and qualifications of representatives). Statement 2 is correct as Article 324 of the Constitution vests the superintendence, direction, and control of the preparation of electoral rolls in the Election Commission of India.
Q2. Which of the following forms is used under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, for lodging an objection to the inclusion of a name or seeking the deletion of an existing entry in the electoral roll?
- Form 8A
- Form 6
- Form 8
- Form 7
Answer: D. Form 7 is specifically designated for objecting to the inclusion of a name or seeking the deletion of an existing entry in the electoral roll. Form 6 is for new voter registration, and Form 8 is for correction of particulars or shifting of residence.
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the demographic data of the final electoral rolls of Manipur published in September 2026: 1. The state has a gender ratio of over 1,050 female electors for every 1,000 male electors. 2. The total number of registered female voters is higher than the total number of registered male voters. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C. Both statements are correct. According to the final photo electoral rolls published on September 6, 2026, Manipur has 10,06,962 female voters and 9,53,350 male voters. This records a gender ratio of 1,056 females for every 1,000 male electors, meaning female voters outnumber male voters.
Revision flashcards
- Which constitutional article guarantees the right to vote on the basis of adult suffrage in India? Article 326 of the Constitution of India.
- What is the primary difference between the Representation of the People Act (RPA) 1950 and RPA 1951? RPA 1950 deals with the allocation of seats, delimitation of constituencies, and preparation of electoral rolls. RPA 1951 deals with the actual conduct of elections, corrupt practices, and disputes arising out of elections.
- What is the purpose of Form 7 in the Indian electoral process? It is used for objecting to the inclusion of a name or requesting the deletion of an existing name from the electoral roll.
- In the context of electoral roll updates, what does 'SIR' stand for? Special Intensive Revision (a comprehensive door-to-door or targeted verification process to clean and update electoral rolls).
- Who is the administrative authority at the state level responsible for the preparation of electoral rolls under the superintendence of the ECI? The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the respective State/UT.