Mains issueGS-2News & Analysis12 October 2026

Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in Electoral Roll Management

An aspirant should be able to argue for the critical importance of transparent and accountable electoral roll management by the ECI and State CEOs to uphold the integrity of India's democratic process, identifying current challenges and suggesting systemic improvements.

Source: thehindu.comOriginal report

Understand the issue · 1/2

Why now

Recent discrepancies in the public availability of Form 7 applications for voter deletion during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Karnataka have highlighted concerns regarding the transparency and integrity of electoral roll management by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and State Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs). This issue is critical for upholding the principle of free and fair elections.

Core issue

The article highlights significant discrepancies and lack of transparency in the management of voter deletion applications (Form 7) during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Karnataka. It reveals that approximately one-fourth of Form 7 applications received were not made publicly available on the websites of the State's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) or the Election Commission of India (ECI), despite official communications mandating public scrutiny. Furthermore, the CEO's own press releases reported contradictory figures for Form 7 applications, and wide gaps were found between reported numbers and those available on the portal, even at the district level. The issue raises concerns about the integrity of electoral rolls and the transparency of the electoral process.

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