New Delhi

Against the backdrop of opposition parties questioning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday asserted that a "pure" voters' list is the key to strengthening democracy.

Addressing the inaugural session of an international conference of election management bodies here, he also highlighted that not one complaint was filed challenging inclusion or exclusion of electors during the roll revision exercise in Bihar last year.

Kumar also noted that not even a single repoll was ordered in the two phases of Bihar Assembly elections in any of the one lakh polling stations.

"Pure electoral roll, including each and every elector as per law, is essential to strengthen democracy and all the elections which will be held on the basis of that electoral roll," CEC Kumar said.

He said electoral rolls in Bihar were revised amid tight public scrutiny.

From purification of rolls to the conduct of elections, a great level of efficiency was achieved by the local poll machinery.

Opposition parties have been attacking the BJP government and the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), alleging it is a move to manipulate votes.

However, the government and EC have denied the charge.

Phase II of the SIR began in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal on November 4 last year.

In Assam, a separate 'special revision' of electoral rolls is in progress.

The last SIR in states will serve as the cut-off date, just as the 2003 voter list of Bihar was used by the ECI for intensive revision.

Most states had the last SIR of the voter list between 2002 and 2004.

The primary aim of the SIR is to weed out foreign illegal migrants by checking their place of birth. The move assumes significance in the wake of a crackdown in various states on illegal migrants, including those from Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Nearly 100 delegates from around 70 countries are attending the International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM-2026).

IICDEM-2026 is the largest conference of its kind ever hosted by India in the field of democracy and election management.

CEC emphasizes ‘pure’ voter lists as foundation for strong democracy
EC-CONFERENCE

01:23 PM, Jan 21, 2026

New Delhi, Jan 21 (PTI): Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday underscored the importance of maintaining a “pure” voters’ list as a cornerstone of democratic governance. Speaking at the inaugural session of the International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM-2026) here, he highlighted that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar last year was conducted with meticulous scrutiny, and no complaints regarding inclusion or exclusion of electors were reported.

Kumar noted that during the two phases of Bihar Assembly elections, not a single repoll was ordered across more than one lakh polling stations. “A pure electoral roll, including every elector as per the law, is essential to strengthen democracy and ensure credibility in all elections conducted on that basis,” he said.

He pointed out that the SIR process in Bihar was carried out amid significant public oversight, reflecting the efficiency and transparency of the local election machinery. Opposition parties have criticized the SIR, alleging it was politically motivated, but both the Election Commission and the government have denied such claims.

Phase II of the SIR began on November 4 last year in multiple states, including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. In Assam, a separate special revision of voter rolls is ongoing. The primary goal of these revisions is to identify and remove entries of foreign illegal migrants, particularly from neighboring countries, thereby ensuring electoral integrity.

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Kumar also highlighted that IICDEM-2026 brings together nearly 100 delegates from 70 countries, making it the largest international conference on democracy and election management hosted by India. The event provides a platform for global knowledge exchange on best practices, technological innovations in elections, and strategies to enhance voter participation, transparency, and public trust in democratic processes.