Ahead of the state's next assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (EC) has filed a fresh affidavit with the Supreme Court concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls.
The EC firmly guaranteed in the affidavit that no voter's name would be struck from the list without adhering to stringent legal requirements, such as giving advance notice and a hearing. This is in direct response to concerns that the revision could disenfranchise genuine voters.
The EC's affidavit explicitly states that it will strictly adhere to the principles of natural justice. "As a matter of policy and in strict adherence to the principles of natural justice, no deletion of any elector's name from the draft electoral roll... shall be undertaken without issuance of a prior notice to the concerned elector indicating the proposed deletion and the grounds thereof, affording a reasonable opportunity of being heard and furnishing relevant documents, and passing of a reasoned and speaking order by the competent authority," the commission declared. This commitment aims to prevent any arbitrary removal of voters from the list.
The opposition had previously criticized the electoral roll revision and filed legal challenges, claiming that the process, which necessitates extensive documentation, could disproportionately impact marginalised communities. The Opposition has labeled the process "vote theft" and accused the ruling party of orchestrating it.
The Election Commission detailed a comprehensive strategy to ensure that all eligible voters are included in the electoral roll. The commission confirmed that a two-tier appeal mechanism is in place to give every voter a chance to appeal any adverse decisions. It also noted that for vulnerable electors who may not currently possess the required documents, the EC will facilitate the process of obtaining them.
The commission also provided figures, stating that out of 7.89 crore electors, over 7.24 crore have already submitted their enumeration forms. To ensure transparency, both printed and digital copies of the draft electoral roll, published on August 1st, have been provided to political parties. An online facility has also been made available for the general public to scrutinise the rolls until September 1.
Maximising Voter Participation
The EC's affidavit outlined a multi-pronged approach to maximise voter participation in the revision process. These initiatives include:
- Extensive Awareness Campaigns: While interacting with locals through SMS, meetings, and frequent visits from Booth Level Officers (BLOs).
- Targeted Outreach: Placing ads in 246 newspapers in Hindi to connect with Bihar's temporary migrants.
- Special Camps: Organising special camps in all 261 urban local bodies to ensure urban electors are not left out.
- Focus on Young Voters: Accepting advance applications for young voters who will reach the qualifying age by October 1st and planning special campaigns during the claims and objections period.
The EC maintains that the SIR is a routine and necessary exercise to maintain the integrity of the electoral rolls by removing voters who have died, moved permanently, or are duplicates, despite the fact that numerous petitions have been filed against the revision in the Supreme Court. It is anticipated that all 243 seats in the 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly will be elected in October or November.
Also Read: Over 6.6 cr Bihar voters file forms before SIR deadline
Follow us
