The Election Commission has shared FAQs on electoral process saying that Special Intensive Revision (SIR) seeks to ensure that no eligible Indian citizen is excluded from the electoral roll. It added that the aim of the exercise is to identify and remove any invalid entries like those relating to deceased persons, duplicate registrations, permanently shifted electors, foreigners and persons otherwise ineligible for electoral registration, in accordance with the prescribed legal procedure.

 

The Commission added that the last major intensive revisions were undertaken during 2002-2004 and after more than two decades, comprehensive verification is necessary to maintain the accuracy, integrity and credibility of electoral rolls. On eligiblity, the Commission said that under Article 326 of the Constitution, only Indian citizens are eligible to be registered as voters. The SIR  process begins with house-to-house verification, followed by the publication of draft rolls and then claims and objections are invited and before the publication of Final Electoral Roll, a notice and hearing phase is carried out.

 

The Poll Body further stated that Special Summary Revision (SSR)  has been rolled out in 17 States and UTs, all of which have already completed SIR. It added that the SSR instructions issued on 15th of this month is different from ongoing SIR as both are different exercises aiming at ensuring a pure and updated electoral roll.

 

On Electronic Voting Machines- EVMs, the Commission clarified that EVMs can not  be hacked or remotely manipulated through the internet,Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or mobile phones. It said, the Commission’s  EVMs are standalone devices without internet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or mobile-network connectivity and remote manipulation through those channels is not supported by their design.