Election Commission calls for thorough review of electoral roll to ensure only eligible citizens are listed

The Election Commission (EC) of India has made it clear that a special and intense revision of the electoral roll is necessary. This announcement comes amid strong objections from several opposition leaders, who are protesting against what they see as possible misuse of state machinery to exclude voters. However, the EC insists that updating the electoral roll is a routine and important activity. The electoral roll is a dynamic list. It needs regular updates because of the deaths of voters, migration of people, and the addition of new voters who have turned 18 years old.

According to the EC, this process is not only necessary but also a legal requirement. Article 326 of the Constitution says that only Indian citizens who are at least 18 years old and live in a particular constituency can be added to the voters' list. The Representation of the People Act 1950 and Rule 25 of the Registration of Electors Rules 1960 also make it mandatory for the Election Commission to revise the electoral roll regularly.

The EC has also been conducting annual revisions, both intensive and summary, for the last 75 years. These exercises are essential to make sure that only eligible citizens are allowed to vote in elections and ineligible people are kept out of the system. The Commission made this statement in response to the fears raised by opposition parties that some voters may be unfairly removed.

Bihar Electoral Roll of 2003 uploaded

As part of this special review, the Election Commission has uploaded the 2003 electoral roll of Bihar on its official website. This list contains the details of around 4.96 crore voters. The move is aimed at making the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Bihar easier.

According to the Commission, nearly 60 percent of the total voters in Bihar are already listed in the 2003 electoral roll. This means they do not need to provide new documents to prove their identity. They only need to verify their details from the 2003 list and submit a filled-out enumeration form. This makes the process easier and faster for both voters and Booth Level Officers (BLOs).

If a voter's name is not in the 2003 list, they can still use the name of their mother or father from the same list. In such cases, only the voter will need to submit documents for themselves, while the parent’s details from the 2003 list will be accepted without further paperwork.

The EC explained that the purpose of uploading the 2003 electoral roll is to help people easily check their old records and avoid the burden of collecting multiple documents. This step is especially useful in rural areas where collecting and storing documents can be difficult.

Why the revision is important

The Election Commission has made it clear that updating the electoral roll is not a political move, but a necessary step to maintain the accuracy of the voters' list. The EC emphasized that the voter list must always be up to date so that only eligible people can vote. If ineligible names, such as those of deceased persons or people who have moved away, remain on the list, it can create problems during elections.

Keeping the list accurate also helps avoid fraud and ensures free and fair elections. According to EC officials, every election must be preceded by a revision of the electoral roll. This revision is either done intensively or through a summary process, depending on the situation. The current effort is part of an intensive revision, which is more detailed and thorough.

Opposition leaders, however, are not convinced. Some of them believe that the process could be used to target certain groups of voters. They argue that using government machinery to remove names from the voters' list could lead to injustice and affect election outcomes. But the Election Commission has promised full transparency in the process and said that no name will be removed without proper verification.

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The EC is also urging citizens to take part in the revision exercise actively. It has asked people to check their names in the electoral roll and report any mistakes. BLOs will be helping citizens with the process. People can also check their details online through the Election Commission’s portal.

The verification process during this special intensive revision includes house-to-house verification by BLOs. They will visit homes to check if the listed voters still live there and are alive. Voters can also visit local election offices to verify their information. People who have recently turned 18 years old can register their names by submitting the necessary documents.

People who are shifting from one area to another due to jobs, marriage, or education will need to update their new address. Those who have lost their documents or never had them will get help from BLOs and local officials to submit alternative proofs.

Citizens whose names are wrongly removed or not found can file a complaint. The EC has said that every complaint will be reviewed seriously and action will be taken to correct mistakes. The Commission has asked voters to stay informed and cooperate during the process.

The Election Commission wants to assure all citizens that the aim of this revision is to make the voting system cleaner and more reliable. It is not meant to target anyone unfairly. The EC is bound by law to keep the electoral roll updated. By using the 2003 Bihar electoral roll and making verification easier, it hopes to speed up the process and reduce errors.

Citizens are encouraged to participate actively, check their names, and report any issues to the authorities. This will help in building a more accurate and fair electoral system that reflects the true voice of the people.

The revision will continue in the coming weeks, and further updates will be shared by the Election Commission from time to time. All voters are requested to stay alert and cooperate with the officials to make this process successful and smooth.