Chennai / New Delhi: The decision by Election Commission of India (ECI) to extend the SIR enrolment deadline has been welcomed by DMK as a victory for democratic rights. However, even as leaders celebrate the postponement, questions linger about the workload on grassroots polling officers and the larger electoral process.
📅 What Changed: SIR Dates Extended
Initially, the deadline for submission of enrolment forms under SIR was set for December 4, with the draft electoral roll to be published by December 9. The ECI has now extended these timelines — giving citizens and authorities additional time: the enrolment date is now December 11, and the draft rolls’ publication has been shifted accordingly.
This move affects multiple states undergoing SIR, including Tamil Nadu, and comes after sustained protests and legal action by DMK.
✅ DMK Says This Is a Democratic Victory
DMK’s legal-wing secretary and MP N R Elango expressed relief at the extension, calling it a victory for the party’s sustained struggle. Elango said the original timetable for SIR was impractical and risked disenfranchising many voters — especially in Tamil Nadu, where monsoon season, festivals, and labour patterns make door-to-door verification difficult.
He also clarified that DMK’s opposition to SIR is not rooted in politics but a demand for fairness and transparency — ensuring no voter is left out due to logistic pressures.
DMK has also filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the legality and timing of SIR in the state.
⚠️ But Even the Extension May Not Be Enough
Despite the extra days, Elango cautioned that the pressure on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) remains intense. He emphasized that the extended deadline “won’t reduce the pressure on the public and BLOs.” Many BLOs are already overburdened, and the hurried roll-out — especially in monsoon conditions — could lead to incomplete or inaccurate enrolments.
Critics say that even under the extended timeline, the pace required to verify every household is unrealistic — and that rushed updates may cause errors or exclusion of eligible voters.
🧑💼 Ground Realities: What People and BLOs Face
Experts and field officers have pointed to several logistical challenges:
- Heavy rain and flooding in rural Tamil Nadu during this period makes door-to-door verification difficult.
- Many residents migrate seasonally for agricultural or labour work, making it hard to catch them at home during the SIR window.
- Downloading and filling the required forms has proven cumbersome for many — with issues like poor internet, language barriers, and lack of documentation.
These factors have pushed DMK to demand that the SIR process be implemented with “patience and planning,” rather than under a rushed schedule.
🔎 What’s Next: Legal Case & Electoral Roll Publication
The Supreme Court is expected to hear the petition filed by DMK challenging SIR in Tamil Nadu on December 4. The outcome could decide whether the roll-revision proceeds under new deadlines or gets paused further.
Meanwhile, political parties and civil-society groups remain watchful. Some have raised concerns that frequent SIR resets — especially under pressure — may compromise electoral roll accuracy rather than improve it.
DMK, for its part, has reiterated its demand for a more transparent, inclusive, and fair voter-list update — especially in a state where ensuring every eligible voter gets counted is critical for democratic legitimacy.
