Concerns over the accuracy of electoral rolls in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have come to the fore after the chairman of the Campaign Committee of the Andaman and Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC), TSG Bhasker, raised alarm about discrepancies between voter lists used for different elections. In a letter submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the islands, Bhasker pointed out that several names appearing in one electoral roll are missing from another, despite voters residing in the same ward or locality.
The issue, flagged months ahead of the Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) elections scheduled for March 2027, is being described as a serious lapse that risks undermining the integrity of the democratic process. According to Bhasker, the mismatches have been found across multiple regions, including municipal areas and Diglipur Tehsil. He stated that voters listed in PRI rolls are missing from the MP election rolls and vice versa, creating confusion and raising questions about the consistency of electoral registration.
Specific examples were cited in his communication. In Burmachad and the 20 Family locality in Diglipur, voters were reportedly found in the MP electoral roll but absent from the PRI roll. Similarly, instances were noted in municipal areas where individuals eligible to vote in local elections did not feature on the MP election voter list. Bhasker has expressed his readiness to provide documented evidence to substantiate the claims.
The discrepancies, if left unaddressed, could disenfranchise eligible voters. Bhasker’s letter emphasized that citizens should not be deprived of their right to vote due to administrative lapses. He called upon the Election Office to urgently examine the anomalies and take corrective action, ensuring uniformity across all electoral rolls before the upcoming polls.
The concerns highlight the complexity of maintaining multiple voter databases for elections at different levels, local, municipal, and parliamentary. While the Election Commission of India oversees the preparation of MP election rolls, local bodies maintain separate records for PRI and municipal elections. Disparities between the lists not only confuse voters but also risk eroding public confidence in the electoral process.
The timing of the concerns adds urgency, as the PRI elections are less than two years away. With preparations already underway, any major correction in voter rolls will require careful planning and prompt implementation. Bhasker’s appeal to the Chief Electoral Officer underscores the need for institutional accountability and swift administrative action to safeguard democratic participation.
The Election Office has not yet issued a public response to the letter, but observers note that addressing such issues involves extensive verification exercises, coordination between different electoral authorities, and possible revisions to the existing voter lists. Ensuring transparency in the correction process will also be critical in maintaining public trust.
Electoral rolls are the foundation of any democratic election. Errors or mismatches, however unintentional, can lead to voter suppression and contested poll outcomes. For islands like Andaman and Nicobar, where geographical distances and limited resources already challenge voter accessibility, the accuracy of electoral rolls becomes even more vital.
As the countdown to the 2027 PRI polls continues, the issue flagged by ANTCC has put the spotlight on the Election Office. Whether corrective measures are taken swiftly will determine if the concerns raised translate into reforms that strengthen the democratic process in the islands. For now, the matter stands as a reminder that even small lapses in electoral administration can have significant implications for citizens’ rights.
