Over 41 Lakh Voters Risk Exclusion in Bihar Electoral Roll Revision

• Over 41 lakh Bihar voters risk exclusion from the final electoral rolls.
• The Election Commission’s (EC) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) found these voters not at their registered addresses.
• 14.1 lakh voters confirmed dead, 19.7 lakh shifted, 7.5 lakh multiple entries, 11,000 untraceable.

GG News Bureau
Patna, 19th July: With only six days left until the deadline for submitting enumeration forms for the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, more than 41 lakh voters now risk being excluded from the final list. This number has risen significantly from 35.6 lakh reported earlier this week.

The Election Commission (EC) stated that after three rounds of home visits by Booth-Level Officers (BLOs), over 41 lakh voters were not found at their registered addresses. Of these, 14.1 lakh voters have been confirmed dead, 19.7 lakh have permanently shifted to other places, 7.5 lakh are registered for voting at multiple locations, and 11,000 voters remain untraceable.

So far, the poll panel has collected 7.15 crore enumeration forms, covering 90.6% of its target, with 88.2% of these forms already digitized. Around 32 lakh forms, or 4% of the total, are still pending collection. The last date for submitting these forms is July 25. The Commission has launched another round of door-to-door visits by BLOs to establish contact with the remaining electors. The EC had previously announced that it would share all details with political parties for verification before any name is struck off the rolls.

Opposition Cries Foul, Alleges ‘Conspiracy’
The opposition has voiced strong objections against this exercise, claiming it is being conducted in a rushed manner to benefit the ruling alliance in Bihar by deleting voters who might be against them. On Saturday, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav penned letters to leaders of 35 major parties across the country, seeking their support against the electoral roll revision. He alleged that a “conspiracy is being hatched, at the behest of the BJP, to attack democracy.”

In his letter, sent to prominent figures including Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Mr. Yadav expressed “deep anguish and urgency.” He stated, “The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar is a spectacle and a tragedy, disenfranchising large numbers of voters and shaking the very foundation of democracy.”

He further added, “This is a clear indication of how an ‘independent institution’ like the Election Commission is bent on eroding public confidence in the integrity of our electoral process. Every citizen of this country, regardless of background or status, takes pride in their vote. The ability to participate in governance is immensely empowering.”

Identification of Foreign Citizens
During the special intensive revision process, BLOs also identified foreign nationals, including individuals from Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, whose names were found in the electoral rolls. The EC stated that these names would be removed after thorough document verification by Electoral Registration Officers.

Those affected by the revision have the right to appeal first to the district collector and then to the chief electoral officer, provided they submit valid proof of citizenship and eligibility.