Kerala Set for Special Intensive Voter Roll Revision Amid Fears of Minority Exclusion

Thiruvananthapuram: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, criticised in Bihar for removing nearly 65 lakh voters, many from minority and marginalised groups, under the guise of verifying nationality, is now headed to Kerala. The move comes even as the Supreme Court is monitoring the fallout of the Bihar exercise.

In Bihar, the apex court has directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to publish the names of all omitted voters along with reasons for their deletion. The court has also ruled that Aadhaar cards must be accepted as a valid proof of identity, easing earlier requirements of ration cards or birth certificates, though it clarified that Aadhaar cannot serve as proof of citizenship. The ECI has since begun uploading the names of the 65 lakh deleted voters on district websites.

Kerala, which has a significant minority population, will now undergo the same SIR process. Chief Electoral Officer Rathan U Kelkar said preparations have already started, with digitised copies of the 2002 rolls matched against the latest 2025 rolls. Based on Bihar’s experience, officials expect around 80% of names to be automatically mapped, but door- to -door verification and fresh enumeration will still be mandatory.

Unlike the routine Special Summary Revision, the SIR treats the rolls as if starting afresh, a step critics argue could open the door to disputes over exclusion. With Kerala’s large numbers of migrant workers, non-resident Keralites, and a politically mobilised electorate, observers warn the exercise could prove more contentious than in Bihar.

Kelkar has sought to calm concerns, insisting that no eligible citizen will be left out. He announced that expatriates and migrant workers will be able to submit documents online and that awareness campaigns will be launched for political parties and the public. Political consultations have been called for September 20, and door -to -door verification is expected to begin within days.

The Supreme Court continues to hear challenges against the Bihar SIR, with further arguments pending on whether the process itself risks large-scale disenfranchisement. Kerala’s turn, observers note, will unfold under sharper national and judicial scrutiny.