Election Commission Faces Credibility Crisis Amid Internal Friction and Controversies Over Electoral Roll Revisions

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is facing a growing credibility crisis amid unprecedented public scrutiny, internal friction among Election Commissioners, and controversies surrounding electoral roll revisions and administrative procedures.

The institutional standing of the poll body has been tested by a series of contentious developments. These include allegations of lax or partial handling of Model Code of Conduct violations during past general elections, discriminatory treatment of opposition parties, a December 2024 rule change permitting the withholding of post-poll voting video footage, and the dismissal of complaints raised by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha regarding electoral rolls. The situation intensified following the abrupt launch of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in June 2025 across nearly a billion electors.

Public debate has further intensified over changes to statutory documents. Fellow Election Commissioners flagged alterations to Form 6—used for voter registration—and the inclusion of a supplemental Declaration Form (Annexure D) as unauthorized. Critics and internal dissenters argued that the declaration, which aligns applicant data with Citizenship Act provisions, exceeded powers under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. Under Section 28 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, only the central government is empowered to make rules carrying out the Act.

While the ECI stated in a September 26 press note that the declaration was upheld by the Supreme Court for SIR periods, the Chief Justice of India subsequently observed that no modified Form 6 had been approved by the court. In an October 1 directive to Chief Electoral Officers, the ECI clarified that Form 6 with the declaration will remain in use in states undergoing SIR, while being used without it elsewhere, and instructed Booth Level Officers to facilitate the re-enrolment of electors omitted during the revision.

Separately, concerns have emerged over the alleged misuse of Form 7 for mass voter deletions in states including Uttarakhand and Karnataka. Objections involving over 16 lakh applications have raised questions about systemic manipulation and the ECI’s handling of frivolous objections. Administrative hurdles have also been reported, with judges heading Appellate Tribunals in West Bengal, the Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra, and local registration officers pointing out that centralized data systems and restricted access to ECINet impeded statutory duties.