IndiaPosted at: Oct 3 2026 5:52PM


SSR delays could leave Gen Z voters off electoral rolls, Jairam Ramesh alleges

New Delhi, Oct 3 (UNI) Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh on Saturday alleged that the Election Commission’s decision to delay the annual Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls could leave a large number of first-time, Gen Z voters unable to get enrolled in time for Assembly elections due early next year.
In a post on social media platform X, Ramesh alleged that “the Chief Election Commissioner’s conspiracy to keep Gen Z voters off the rolls continues”, arguing that the timely conduct of the SSR was essential to ensure that newly eligible voters were included in the electoral rolls.
Ramesh said legal opinion and past precedent established that first-time voters were formally brought onto the electoral roll through the annual SSR process and alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner had “frozen this process since January 2024”.
“Regular and timely SSR is key to enable first-time voters to exercise their right,” he said.
The Congress leader also questioned the explanation that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) currently underway in several states and union Territories was responsible for the delay in conducting SSR elsewhere. “One excuse being given is that the disastrous SIR is ongoing in 19 states and UTs. But this leaves 16 states and UTs where the SSR has been frozen for no reason — except to exclude young voters,” he alleged.
Ramesh specifically referred to Uttar Pradesh and Goa, claiming that the SIR exercise in the two states had already been completed but that fresh electoral rolls had not been published. “There is a serious risk of Gen Z voters being unable to vote,” he said.
The Election Commission’s own material identifies increasing enrolment among the newly eligible 18-19 age group as one of the objectives of the annual SSR.
Its instructions for the SSR with January 1, 2024, as the qualifying date listed increasing enrolment in the 18-19 age group among the key objectives of the revision exercise.
The ECI has also said that every Indian citizen who has attained 18 years of age on the applicable qualifying date is eligible for registration, subject to the statutory conditions, while its voter services portal provides facilities for applications for enrolment.
The Commission’s 2024 election material recorded more than 18.4 million electors in the 18-19 age group in the final electoral rolls prepared with January 1, 2024, as the qualifying date.
It also stated that continuous updating of electoral rolls would continue until the last date for filing nominations with respect to the proximate qualifying date.
The Congress has repeatedly criticised the SIR exercise, alleging that the revision process could result in the exclusion of eligible voters.
The Election Commission, for its part, has maintained mechanisms for claims, objections and enrolment and has continued to provide electoral-roll services through its voter portal.
Ramesh’s intervention comes ahead of Assembly elections expected in several states in early 2027 and adds another dimension to the widening Congress-Election Commission confrontation over electoral-roll revisions.
The Opposition has been demanding greater transparency and safeguards to ensure that eligible voters are not left out of the electoral process.
Linking the issue to the Congress’s broader political attack on the BJP, Ramesh concluded his post with the remark: “Clearly Gen Z knows Lotus has become Loot-us.” The lotus is the BJP’s reserved election symbol. UNI SKA SAS
Tags: #SSR delays could leave Gen Z voters off electoral rolls# Jairam Ramesh alleges
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