India’s Electoral Integrity

India’s electoral integrity is increasingly under strain, not because of an absence of reforms, but due to the introduction of potentially deformative measures such as Delimitation, One Nation One Election (ONOE), and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. While these measures are presented as administrative or efficiency-driven reforms, they raise serious concerns about fairness, inclusiveness, and federal balance in India’s electoral democracy.

About India’s Electoral Democracy

India is the world’s largest electoral democracy, operating under a parliamentary system as laid down in the Constitution of India, 1950. Elections are administered by the Election Commission of India (ECI), an autonomous constitutional authority established under Article 324, which oversees elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice President.

India’s electoral system has long been praised for its vibrancy, scale, and inclusiveness. However, growing concerns over recent electoral changes threaten to create institutional weaknesses that could undermine the credibility and integrity of elections.

Key Pillars of Concern

1. Delimitation Based on Population

The proposed delimitation exercise after the 2026 Census could significantly alter the balance of political power among states. States in southern and eastern India that have successfully controlled population growth may be penalized, while states with higher fertility rates—particularly in the northern Hindi-speaking belt—could gain disproportionate representation.

Such population-based seat allocation risks gerrymandering, undermines the principle of federalism, and may distort the representative character of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.

2. One Nation, One Election (ONOE)

The proposal to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies is projected as an efficiency-enhancing reform. However, it risks magnifying incumbency advantage and centralising political narratives.

In synchronized elections, national issues tend to overshadow local concerns, benefiting dominant national parties and reducing voter autonomy at the state level. Moreover, concentrating elections into a single five-year cycle increases the manageability and potential manipulability of the electoral process by those in power.

3. Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, particularly in states such as Assam and Jammu & Kashmir, has raised concerns of selective disenfranchisement. The process, if influenced by strong organizational control over local officials, can disproportionately affect minority and marginalized communities.

Recent reports from Bihar, where nearly 44 lakh names disappeared from voter lists, suggest a worrying national pattern. Projections indicate that over five crore voters may be excluded, potentially constituting the largest instance of voter disenfranchisement in democratic history.

Global Contexts

India’s experience reflects a broader global phenomenon often described as electoral authoritarianism, where elections remain procedurally intact but substantively hollow. The International IDEA Global State of Democracy Report has flagged India for democratic backsliding, particularly in the area of credible elections.

Concepts such as abusive constitutionalism and autocratic legalism, observed in countries like Hungary, Turkey, and Venezuela, increasingly find resonance in the Indian context, where legal reforms are used to entrench power rather than deepen democracy.

Way Ahead

Addressing Delimitation

Delimitation is governed by Articles 82 and 170 of the Constitution and the Delimitation Act, 2002. Parliament must ensure a fair population-to-seat ratio that does not penalize states with effective population control. This may require a constitutional amendment to preserve inter-state equity.

A new Delimitation Act must be enacted after the 2026 Census, while safeguarding the federal balance and resisting purely population-based redistribution of seats.

Reassessing One Nation One Election

Implementing ONOE would require constitutional amendments to Articles 83, 85, 172, 174, and 356, passed by a special majority. Since state elections fall within the federal domain, Parliament must ensure extensive consultation with states, possibly through an Inter-State Council or all-party committee.

Parliament must critically scrutinize both the intent and long-term impact of synchronized elections on federalism and voter choice.

Reforming Special Intensive Revision (SIR)

The SIR process is conducted under Section 25 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, with the objective of removing duplicates and including eligible voters. Parliament should provide legislative backing and funding for secure digital integration of voter rolls across states.

It must also oversee Aadhaar–EPIC linkage, ensuring strict compliance with data privacy norms, and mandate annual electoral roll reviews aligned with Census data. Transparency, accountability, and protection against systemic disenfranchisement must be central to the process.

Conclusion

Preventing electoral deformities is an ongoing process that requires a combination of institutional integrity, parliamentary oversight, civic vigilance, and technological accountability. India’s electoral democracy must evolve toward greater transparency, inclusivity, and equity to preserve public trust and democratic legitimacy in the long term.