The Right to Vote: A Constitutional Promise vs. Bureaucratic Hurdles
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian Polity and Governance (Election Commission of India - ECI, Universal Adult Franchise, Fundamental Rights, Representation of the People Act - RP Act, Citizenship, key Supreme Court judgments).
Mains:
GS Paper 1: Social empowerment; Salient features of Indian Society.
GS Paper 2: Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings, evolution, features, significant provisions and basic structure; Powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies (ECI); Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
Essay: Topics on Democracy, The Right to Vote, Citizenship, Inclusion vs. Exclusion.
Key Highlights from the News
The article argues that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar could lead to the disenfranchisement of millions of people.
This process indicates an ideological shift "from presumed inclusion to presumptive exclusion" of citizens.
India's constitutional framers, especially Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, granted universal adult franchise regardless of literacy or wealth. However, the new procedures contradict this.
The burden of proof to establish citizenship is shifted from the state to the citizen.
The article compares this measure to the discriminatory laws of America's Jim Crow era and Assam's "D-voters" problem.
Demanding documents like birth certificates and passports, instead of accepting Aadhaar or ration cards (commonly held by the poor) as proof, could lead to the exclusion of millions.
The article reminds that the primary duty of the Election Commission of India (ECI) is not just to purify the electoral roll, but to ensure free and fair elections, i.e., to protect the right to vote.
A vote is not just a document, but a declaration that all citizens are equal.
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