The Election Commission of India (ECI) has strongly rebuffed claims made by Congress MP P. Chidambaram regarding the inclusion of approximately 6.5 lakh migrant workers on Tamil Nadu's electoral roll, calling the accusations "misleading" and "baseless". The ECI has also cautioned against politicizing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Chidambaram had alleged that the ECI was overstepping its authority and attempting to alter the electoral character of states, deeming the addition of these voters under the Special Intensive Revision exercise as "alarming" and "patently illegal". He questioned the rationale behind enrolling migrant workers in Tamil Nadu, arguing that their "permanent home" remains in their native states like Bihar, and that they should return to those states to vote in Assembly elections. He also voiced his concern about the possible disenfranchisement of 65 lakh voters in Bihar during the SIR exercise.

In response, the ECI has clarified that it is solely responsible for conducting the SIR of electoral rolls, and not the central government. Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh echoed this, accusing certain opposition parties of politicizing the process. The ECI's objective, according to Singh, is to verify genuine citizens and remove deceased or ineligible voters from the rolls. The ECI has stated that misinformation is being spread in the media to obstruct the SIR drive in Bihar. The exact figures of voters who have permanently migrated from Bihar to other states will be known only after the SIR has been conducted.

Several political parties have petitioned the ECI for cleaning up the electoral rolls and ensuring that there is no duplication of names, inadvertent deletions or inclusion of bogus names. Each party has a polling agent present at every booth who is responsible for ensuring the sanctity of the voters list.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is an exercise conducted by the ECI to update and rectify voter lists. This involves removing names of deceased voters, correcting errors, and identifying individuals who may have moved or are otherwise ineligible to vote in a particular constituency. The ECI has also been working to enfranchise migrant voters, recognizing the challenges faced by a mobile population in a system designed around stable residency. Political parties and civil rights groups have urged the ECI to facilitate absentee voting through postal ballots to ensure that every segment of the eligible adult Indian population is enfranchised.

The issue of migrant voters and electoral roll revisions has become a contentious topic, with opposition parties raising concerns about potential disenfranchisement and accusing the government of using the ECI for political purposes. Some opposition leaders have alleged that the citizenship screening during the SIR exercise is aimed at large-scale disenfranchisement. Concerns have also been raised about the papers the election body has sought, as they are not often available to marginalized sections of society.

Conversely, the government and ruling party members have accused the opposition of politicizing the issue and questioning the integrity of the ECI. They maintain that the SIR is a necessary step to ensure fair and accurate elections. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat questioned who was experiencing "stomachaches" when the Election Commission reviews the voter list.

The ECI has taken steps to facilitate voting for certain migrant groups, such as Kashmiri migrants, by abolishing cumbersome procedures like filling Form-M for those residing in Jammu and Udhampur. For migrants residing outside these areas, self-attestation of Form M is now permitted. The ECI has also explored options for enabling voting rights for internal migrants, including remote voting and facilitating voter registration at their current place of residence.

The debate surrounding the ECI's actions highlights the complexities of balancing electoral integrity with ensuring the right to vote for all citizens, including those who are mobile or marginalized.