Pakistan, Nov. 4 -- India on Tuesday began a large-scale revision of its voter rolls under the "Special Intensive Revision" (SIR) initiative, a move that critics warn could lead to widespread voter exclusion. The three-month exercise spans 12 states and union territories, many of which are preparing for local elections next year.

Election Commission of India (ECI) chief Gyanesh Kumar announced that tens of thousands of election officials and nearly half a million volunteers will go door-to-door to assist citizens in completing voter enumeration forms. "Officials will help the elector fill the enumeration form, collect it and submit it," Kumar said.

A similar drive earlier this year in Bihar resulted in the removal of about 6.5 million n...