ECI To Implement Bihar Voter List Verification

ECI To Implement Bihar Voter List Verification

Why in News ECI To Implement Bihar Voter List Verification? 

Recently, the Election Commission of India launched a Special Intensive Revision of Bihar’s voter list. The move aims to weed out ineligible entries but has drawn criticism for its documentation demands ahead of elections.

Special Voter List Verification Drive in Bihar

• Introduction: The Election Commission launched a targeted voter roll verification effort across Bihar to enhance accuracy before upcoming polls. The verification began in mid-June 2025 and will continue until late July 2025. 
• Objective: The move aims to ensure that only eligible Indian citizens remain on the official list of voters. 
  • The verification will also remove duplicate names, fake entries, and names of the deceased from the voter database.
  • This drive especially targets entries that may have been falsely included or have outdated information. 
• Legal Framework: This verification falls under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. 
  • According to these legal provisions, the ECI holds the authority to revise and verify electoral rolls from time to time. 
  • Rule 21A of the 1960 Rules allows for special intensive revisions, particularly in cases where doubts arise about the accuracy of the existing voter list.
• Implementation: In this drive Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are visiting households across all districts in Bihar to verify the details of registered voters. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are checking voter eligibility as per Section 23 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. They are reviewing applications and records to confirm whether individuals meet the required criteria for inclusion in the voter list.
• Verification: During the verification process, voters are required to submit valid proof of Indian citizenship and residence. Voters excluded from the 2003 electoral rolls must now provide fresh documents to prove their eligibility.
  • The ECI also allows online submission through the Voter Portal or NVSP app, but document uploading remains mandatory.

Why Voter List Verification Became Necessary in Bihar?

• • Eliminate Duplicate Voters: The ECI reported inclusion of fraudulent entries and overlapping registrations at multiple addresses. They aim to remove duplicate or ineligible entries by demanding fresh enumeration forms and valid residency proof. This step ensures that each person is registered appropriately in one constituency only.

• Verify Rapid Demographic Changes: Bihar has seen significant shifts in population due to frequent migration and increasing urban development in recent years. Many residents have shifted between constituencies without updating records. The ECI cites these demographic shifts and unreported deaths or relocations as key reasons for rolling out a full-scale verification drive—work not performed since 2003.

• Prevent Entry of Immigrants: Concerns over illegal entries near border districts prompted the ECI to adopt stricter documentation norms. Especially for voters not listed in pre-2003 rolls, they demand detailed citizenship proof to block foreign nationals from being added to electoral rolls.

• Legal Authority: Under the Representation of People Act, 1950, Section 21 empowers the ECI to revise electoral lists, and Section 23 defines voter qualifications. The constitutional Articles 324 and 326 also mandate free and fair elections. The SIR aligns with this legal framework.

Concerns Related to Special Voter List Verification in Bihar

• Risk of Voter Disenfranchisement: Many voters, especially from underprivileged, rural, or migrant backgrounds, lack the heavy documentation demanded—like birth certificates or parental records. 

• The special revision requires nearly 2.9 crore voters added post-2003 to provide proof by July 2025. Without these papers, voters risk removal from the rolls and loss of voting rights.

• Eroding Public Trust: Trust in the Election Commission of India (ECI) has declined sharply, with surveys showing confidence dropping from 51% in 2019. The guideline that designates voters as “suspected foreigner” (‘D’ voters) if they fail to prove their eligibility, further undermines trust. This path can strip people not only of voting rights but also their status as citizens.

• Impractical Timeline: The entire exercise must wrap up within 30 days amid heavy rains. Critics call this timeframe unrealistic. Officials face pressure to complete door‑to‑door verification and process claims and objections before the new rolls publish on September 30.

Way Forward

• Authorities should consider increasing the verification period beyond the current July 25 deadline. This extension would allow citizens—especially those in remote and flood-affected areas—sufficient time to gather documents and respond to notices. 
• The Election Commission should introduce alternative verification methods for individuals without standard papers. Flexibility in documentation will help prevent unnecessary exclusions.
• The government must expand awareness efforts using radio, local language pamphlets, mobile vans, and door-to-door outreach. BLOs should also assist in filling forms and clarifying doubts.
• Periodic reporting and public audits can help ensure accountability. Public trust in the process can grow if neutral bodies closely observe the implementation at every stage.