NBCC calls for Clean Rolls and Inclusive Democracy in Nagaland

Dr Villo Naleo
Secretary, Social Concern (Nagaland Baptist Church Council)

As the Election Commission of India exercises the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls in Nagaland, with much apprehension we welcome every genuine effort to make elections clean, credible and transparent. But the integrity of an electoral roll must be measured not only by how many ineligible names are removed, but also by whether every eligible citizen is protected from wrongful exclusion. Nagaland has a distinctive history of village-based communities, customary institutions, clan relationships and traditional landholding. Many families may possess records that do not fit neatly into modern bureaucratic categories. A rigid documentation-based approach could therefore disadvantage genuine indigenous voters. Many residents study, work, serve in government, or live temporarily outside their native villages. Conversely, people move into Dimapur, Kohima and other urban areas. Determining whether someone has shifted, is temporarily absent, or remains ordinarily resident can be complicated. Incorrect classification could result in deletion of genuine voters.

A democracy is not strengthened when questionable names remain on the roll; neither is it strengthened when genuine citizens lose their names from it. The true test of SIR is therefore not simply how efficiently names are removed, but how faithfully every legitimate citizen is protected. A technically accurate electoral roll is necessary, but democracy is not clean merely because the voter list is clean. Democracy is also about participation, conscience, equality, accountability and justice. SIR is a large-scale exercise involving mapping, house-to-house verification, data entry, claims and objections. While speed is important, accuracy must take precedence over deadlines. Excessive pressure on field-level officials could increase mistakes in enumeration and verification. Rumors must not be allowed to deceive the people, and bureaucracy or indifference must never become a barrier that denies genuine citizens the assistance they need.  

It is for this reason:

First, we call upon the administrative machinery to take pro-active role in this process, while electoral irregularities can range from technical administrative mistakes to deliberate voter suppression and fraud, actively supporting or institutionalizing them would result in violating the fundamental right of a person provided in the constitution of India.  

Second, we call upon all the BLO’s and Village authorities who are influential in maintaining a clean and honest electoral roll in every constituency. The mandate given to you is entrusted with great hope and trust to ensure clean politics. “You are not merely standing at the door, you are the door. Through you, righteousness and selflessness will either enter and bless the people, or corruption, greed, and wickedness will enter and poison the whole society.”

Third, we call upon every Christian family to take a stand and not include the names of the deceased and invalid persons who are no longer eligible. Let every Christian family choose truth over manipulation, righteousness over expediency, and conscience over political gain. Let us cleanse our electoral rolls not merely to comply with the law, but as an act of moral responsibility before God and our people. For a nation cannot build a just future upon dishonest names, fraudulent identities, and corrupted consciences. Proverbs 16:8: “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.” 

Fourth, we call upon every voter to be vigilant and resolute in safeguarding their democratic birthright from any wrongful deletion, exclusion, intimidation, or manipulation. The right to vote is not a favor granted by those in power; it is a fundamental expression of citizenship and democratic participation. Every eligible voter has the right-and indeed the responsibility-to ensure that their name remains on the electoral roll and that their eligibility is established through a fair and lawful process.

We therefore appeal that an intensive revision should not become an intensive exclusion. Nagaland’s context is unique where questions of identity, indigenous rights, migration and historical records are unusually sensitive, the process must be careful, inclusive, transparent, non-discriminatory and rights-protective.