Revision of Electoral Rolls

Revision of electoral rolls is the statutory process for updating the official list of electors in each constituency so that eligible voters are included and incorrect or ineligible entries are corrected or removed. It is governed primarily by the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, under the supervision of the Election Commission of India.

Constitutional and statutory basis

Under Article 324, the Election Commission supervises the preparation and revision of electoral rolls. Article 325 requires one general electoral roll for every territorial constituency, while Article 326 establishes elections on the basis of adult suffrage.

• A person must ordinarily be an Indian citizen, at least 18 years old on the qualifying date, and ordinarily resident in the constituency to be registered.
• The qualifying dates are 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October of a year.

Modes and stages of revision

Under Section 21 of the 1950 Act, the roll is revised in the prescribed manner before general elections and bye-elections, unless the Election Commission directs otherwise as permitted by law. The Commission may also order revision in any year or a special revision of a constituency or part of it, recording reasons.

• The existing roll continues in force until the revised roll is finally published.
• The prescribed process generally includes publication of a draft roll, invitation of claims and objections, inquiry and disposal by the Electoral Registration Officer, and final publication.
• The revised roll comes into force immediately upon final publication under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

Continuous updating and remedies

Revision does not prevent updating between revision cycles. The Electoral Registration Officer may correct entries, transpose names or delete entries after verification and, where required, giving the affected person a reasonable opportunity to be heard.

• Under Section 23, an eligible person may apply for inclusion, but statutory restrictions apply after the last date for nominations until completion of the election.
• Decisions concerning correction, deletion or inclusion are appealable under Section 24 in the prescribed manner.