CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Delhi: 1. Trust is democracy’s greatest capital
Democracy is not merely the process of holding elections; it is a system based on citizens’ trust, impartial institutions and constitutional propriety. Elections are the foundation of democratic governance, and the Election Commission is the key constitutional institution responsible for maintaining the credibility of that foundation. Its responsibility, therefore, is not limited to announcing polling dates, issuing election schedules and conducting the counting of votes. Its functioning must be such that every citizen has confidence that his or her right to vote is protected and that there will be no discrimination in the electoral process.
When the decisions of a constitutional institution begin to face widespread questions, the problem is not confined to a political dispute. It also affects citizens’ democratic trust. The biggest challenge before the Election Commission today is to prove its impartiality not merely through statements, but through transparent processes, clear answers and an effective grievance-redress mechanism.
2. Revision of the electoral roll and emerging questions
A special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll is carried out with the objective of making the electoral process more accurate. It is necessary to identify deceased voters, citizens who have shifted residence and names registered at more than one place. An error-free electoral roll is important for free and fair elections.
But the success of this process cannot be measured only by the removal of ineligible names. It is equally necessary to ensure that no eligible citizen is deprived of the right to vote because of a technical error, lack of documents, administrative negligence or lack of information.
According to reports that emerged in October 2026, a controversy has surfaced over nearly 13 crore names being removed or marked for removal during the revision process. It is necessary to understand the categories of these figures and their final status. The Election Commission’s position is that the purpose of the process is to update the electoral roll, while the opposition has raised questions over possible wrongful deletions and the lack of adequate safeguards. These allegations and claims require impartial scrutiny. It would not be proper to treat all deletions as wrong merely on the basis of numbers, and it would also not be democratically sufficient to accept every action as correct without examination.
3. Deletion of an eligible voter’s name is a serious matter
The right to vote is the basic foundation of democratic participation. If the name of an eligible voter is removed from the list, it is not merely an administrative inconvenience but a serious matter linked to a citizen’s rights. For the poor, the elderly, migrant workers, rural citizens and those who do not have easy access to required documents, the process of re-registration can be difficult.
Therefore, before removing a name from the electoral roll, there must be proper verification, clear information and an opportunity to file objections. The voter should also be told why his or her name has been removed or on what basis additional documents are being sought.
It would not be appropriate to exclude a citizen merely on the basis of technical records without giving that person an opportunity to prove eligibility. Maintaining a balance between administrative convenience and protection of the right to vote should be the Election Commission’s primary responsibility.
4. The Form-6 dispute and clarity of process
Form-6 is used to include a name in the electoral roll. In the recent dispute, questions have been raised over the process for re-inclusion after the names of some people already registered in the electoral roll were removed. In particular, concern has been expressed over whether already registered voters are being required to make a declaration meant for applicants enrolling for the first time.
According to reports dated 14 October 2026, the Supreme Court indicated 28 October as the date for passing an order on the discrepancy relating to Form-6 in connection with the revision of the electoral roll in Delhi. Judicial consideration in this matter remains important. It would therefore not be appropriate to present any side’s claim as a final decision.
This dispute also raises a broader administrative question. If a citizen’s name has been removed by mistake, why should there not be a simple, clear and time-bound mechanism for its restoration? The objective of the process should be to assist the eligible voter, not to trap the person in unnecessary formalities.
5. Questions over the Election Commission’s internal functioning
Reports have also referred to differences over the Election Commission’s decisions and its internal functioning. Some reports mentioned concerns among Election Commissioners relating to voter registration, access to data and the revision process. On the other hand, the Commission has publicly said that important decisions were taken unanimously and that internal deliberations are part of the normal functioning of any institution.
It would not be proper to treat any unverified allegation as fact. But the clearer the decision-making process in democratic institutions, the less room there is for unnecessary suspicion. The Commission should ensure that its decisions are taken in accordance with law, institutional procedure and the necessary record.
The collective responsibility of a constitutional institution is not fulfilled by formal approval alone. The basis of decisions, the exercise of powers and the framework of accountability must also be clear. This will strengthen the Commission’s institutional credibility.
6. The Supreme Court’s role and judicial review
When serious questions related to the electoral process arise, the role of the judiciary becomes important. The Supreme Court has earlier considered matters relating to revision of electoral rolls. In the recent controversy too, questions concerning procedure, voter information and the re-registration system have been raised before the court.
On 12 October 2026, leaders of opposition parties approached the Supreme Court challenging changes in the electoral roll. The petition was said to include demands related to the revision process, the basis for deletion of names and examination of the relevant records. Allegations made in a petition and the final decision delivered by the court on them are separate matters. Similarly, procedural deficiencies in a petition do not mean that a judicial decision has already been delivered on its substantive questions.
The purpose of judicial review is not to take sides in a political dispute, but to examine questions in accordance with the law and the Constitution. All sides should respect the judicial process and avoid projecting any claim as the final truth before the court’s findings are available.
7. Need to move beyond political allegations and counter-allegations
Responses from political parties are natural in disputes involving the Election Commission because the electoral process is directly linked to their political competition. The opposition has the right to raise questions and seek legal remedies if it suspects irregularities. At the same time, the Commission and the government should also have the opportunity to place the basis of their decisions before the public and respond factually to the allegations made.
But it is not healthy for democracy if every administrative decision is described as a political conspiracy and every criticism is branded as an anti-institution campaign. Allegations must be examined on the basis of facts and law. Political rhetoric does not provide a solution; it can only deepen distrust.
The Election Commission should respond to criticism not in personal or political language, but through documents, data and clear procedures. Political parties too should avoid spreading unverified information and present their complaints with evidence.
8. Human accountability is essential alongside technology
The role of digital systems in election administration is steadily increasing. Technology can be useful in data management, voter registration and verification of records. But no digital system is error-free. Incorrect data, incomplete information or software limitations can affect real citizens.
Therefore, technological systems must have a clear audit trail, records of decisions, scope for correction by authorised officials and independent technical testing. If a voter’s name is removed by mistake, the right to restore it should not be rendered ineffective merely because of technical barriers.
Technology should be used to make administration more efficient, not to create opaque obstacles for citizens. The final responsibility does not rest with software, but with the institutions and officials who build it, operate it and take decisions on its basis.
9. Transparency is the effective way to dispel doubts
Trust is not built through assurances alone. It requires public information, timely answers and a system for resolving complaints. The Election Commission can make available, in simple language, the reasons for changes in the electoral roll, the revision process, the status of objections and the timeline for corrections.
Where law and confidentiality permit, making consolidated data and process-related records public will strengthen independent scrutiny and citizen oversight. Voters should also receive clear information on how to check their names, where to complain if an error is found and what legal remedy is available if they are dissatisfied with a decision.
Transparency is not a weakness of the Commission but its institutional strength. The more questions are answered clearly and with evidence, the less space there will be for rumours and misinformation.
10. Citizens’ responsibility and awareness
Along with the accountability of democratic institutions, citizens’ awareness is also important. Voters should check their names in the electoral roll from time to time, apply under the prescribed procedure if there is an error in their registration details and keep the required documents safe.
However, the responsibility of citizen awareness does not mean that the administration is free of accountability. Government institutions should provide facilities that also help the elderly, persons with disabilities, people living in remote areas and citizens with limited access to digital services.
Protection of the right to vote is a shared responsibility, but making the institutional process simple, just and accessible is the duty of the election administration.
11. The way ahead: reform, dialogue and accountability
Some concrete steps are important to address the current challenge before the Election Commission. First, the process for deleting names from the electoral roll and adding them again should be clear and time-bound. Second, every affected voter should get an effective opportunity to know the reason and present his or her case. Third, independent scrutiny of digital systems and a mechanism for error correction should be ensured.
Fourth, regular dialogue should be established with political parties and civil society organisations so that genuine problems can be identified in time. Fifth, clarity should be maintained in the Commission’s internal decision-making process and public communication. Sixth, court directions should be complied with in a time-bound manner and disputes should be resolved through the legal process.
The purpose of these steps should not be to benefit or harm any political party, but to make the electoral system more credible. In a democracy, the prestige of an institution survives only when there is room to question its decisions and when a system exists to answer those questions.
Conclusion: Protecting trust along with electoral fairness
The Election Commission is an important constitutional institution of Indian democracy. Protecting its independence and credibility is in the interest of the government, the opposition, the judiciary, civil society and ordinary voters alike. But the dignity of an institution does not mean that its decisions should not be questioned. Real institutional strength is reflected in the ability to listen to criticism, correct mistakes and respond according to law.
Cleansing the electoral roll is necessary, but the right to vote of any eligible citizen should not be put at risk in its name. Similarly, suspicions of irregularities must be examined, but it is also not proper to hold any institution guilty without evidence. The solution lies in facts, transparency, independent scrutiny and constitutional propriety.
The success of democracy is not determined only by whether elections were held on time. Its real test is whether citizens have confidence in their participation, whether political competition appears fair and whether constitutional institutions are seen to work according to the same rules for everyone. This is the moment for the Election Commission to strengthen public trust further through transparency and accountability. In a democracy, the power of the ballot is complete only when the voter is confident that his or her voice is protected from the list to the result.
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