Summary revision of electoral rolls
Topic: Elections and the Electoral System · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Summary revision is the routine yearly update of the voters' list under s.21(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1950. A draft roll is published, people file claims and objections, these are decided, and then a final roll is issued. Households are not counted again from scratch. It keeps the list current at low cost, but old errors can stay on the roll.
Example
Each year a draft roll is put up. A new 18-year-old files Form 6 to be added, and a family files Form 7 to remove a dead relative's name. The ERO decides these before the final roll comes out.
Don't confuse with
- Intensive revision / Special Intensive Revision (s.21(3)): voters are counted again house to house, and it can be ordered at any time for recorded reasons. Example: Bihar, 2025, which the Supreme Court upheld in ADR v. ECI (2026).
Related concepts
- Representation of the People Act 1950
- Electoral roll
- Qualifying date
- Ordinary residence
- Overseas elector
- Electoral Registration Officer
- Booth Level Officer
- Special Intensive Revision
- Electors Photo Identity Card