A day inside a Delhi SIR camp: Forms, confusion and long days

Delhi is currently undergoing the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, with the Election Commission extending the deadline to submit forms to August 17. Booth Level Officers are handling everything from distributing and collecting forms to digitising the data. To make the process easier, some local residents have set up small camps in their homes to help people fill out and submit their forms. 

We visited one such camp, where voters faced several challenges in understanding and completing the process.

For many, SIR has emerged as a confusing exercise. Some also expressed fears that they could lose their citizenship because of the process. The term ‘relative’ used in the form has added to the confusion, with voters, volunteers, and even some polling officials unsure about how it should be interpreted.

Abida, who is unhappy with the government and no longer votes, came to the camp after people told her that failing to fill out the form could get her expelled from Delhi. “Even if I fill out the form, will you stop the demolition?” she asked us.

What happens at these camps through the day, and what are voters saying about SIR? 

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