Bihar's Electoral Rework: Risk of Voter Omission versus Improvement? Expert Warns of Concerns
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, initiated by the Election Commission of India (ECI), has sparked concerns and criticisms, primarily around its methodology, timing, and potential impact on voter inclusivity.
### Concerns and Criticisms:
The process has been criticized for disproportionately placing the responsibility for inclusion or deletion in electoral rolls on the voters themselves rather than on electoral officials. This raises concerns about potential exclusions or errors if voters fail to engage properly with the process.
The condensed timeline of the SIR, happening very close to the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, has led to worries that the tight timeline may not allow sufficient verification or correction time, potentially disenfranchising eligible voters.
The reliance on Booth Level Officers (BLOs) conducting house-to-house surveys and distributing semi-filled enumeration forms for voters to verify and return has been viewed as problematic. Fearing it could lead to errors or exclusions, some argue that the short notice for voters to confirm or object to entries may be problematic.
### Potential Impact on Voter Inclusivity:
The ECI maintains that the SIR aims to include all eligible citizens, remove ineligible voters, and enhance transparency in the electoral rolls. As of early July 2025, BLOs have distributed enumeration forms to around 87% of Bihar's roughly 7.9 crore registered voters, with about 38 lakh forms already received back.
The ECI has assured continuous eligibility verification after receiving the enumeration forms and will publish draft electoral rolls to invite claims and objections. The final rolls will be published by the end of September 2025, allowing for appeals thereafter, indicating processes for correcting errors or omissions.
### Summary:
While the SIR is intended to update and clean electoral rolls, critics fear the timing and process may reduce voter inclusivity by placing undue burden on voters and not allowing enough time for proper verification and corrections. This could potentially disenfranchise legitimate voters if they are unable to engage effectively. However, the ECI insists that with multiple visits, online facilitation, and formal claims/objections mechanisms, the process will be fair and comprehensive.
The key challenge is balancing the need for a thorough revision of electoral rolls with ensuring that no eligible voter is unintentionally excluded due to procedural complexities or tight timelines. Notable opposition leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav, Pappu Yadav, and Prashant Kishor, have accused the ECI of targeting marginalized groups and alleging that the process could disproportionately exclude the poor, Dalit, and migrant voters.
Mr Kumar, the new Chief Election Commissioner, has stated that the ECI, as an independent body, must prioritize transparency. He has asked the ECI to halt the SIR, engage with opposition parties, and resume transparently or consider delaying the elections to ensure inclusivity. The feasibility of the ECI's pledge to ensure no eligible voter is excluded remains uncertain due to the July 25 deadline looming and logistical hurdles mounting.
- The ongoing debate in policy-and-legislation circles and general news outlets revolves around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, with critics raising concerns over its potential impact on voter inclusivity and the problems associated with its politics.
- In the realm of politics and general news, discussions surround the concerns and criticisms levied against the Election Commission of India (ECI) for its policy-and-legislation decisions regarding the SIR, particularly in terms of its timing, methodology, and alleged potential to disenfranchise eligible voters.
