The Election Fee of India (ECI) mentioned on Tuesday that it’ll undertake a particular intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar to weed out ineligible names, citing fast urbanisation, frequent migration and international unlawful immigrants as a number of the motivations for the house-to-house verification train.
Bihar is about to go to the polls later this 12 months. That is the primary time that ECI has spoken about unlawful immigrants being a part of the electoral roll within the state the place the final SIR was finished in 2003.
The ballot physique additionally mentioned that it’ll conduct an identical train nationwide.
“One of many basic pre-conditions set out in Article 326 of the Structure is that an individual is required to be an Indian citizen, for [their] identify to be registered within the electoral roll. Consequently, the fee has a constitutional obligation to make sure that solely individuals who’re residents [are enrolled in the electoral roll]… Subsequently, the fee has now determined to start the SIR in the whole nation for the discharge of its constitutional mandate to guard the integrity of the electoral rolls,” deputy election commissioner Sanjay Kumar mentioned in a set of directions issued to Bihar chief electoral officer.
“Varied causes similar to fast urbanisation, frequent migration, younger residents turning into eligible to vote, non-reporting of deaths and inclusion of the names of international unlawful immigrants have necessitated the conduct of an intensive revision in order to make sure integrity and preparation of error-free electoral rolls. The Sales space Degree Officers (BLOs) shall be conducting house-to-house surveys for verification through the strategy of this intensive revision,” the ballot watchdog mentioned in a press release.
The final time ECI did an intensive revision in seven states, together with Bihar, in 2003.
ECI mentioned the choice was taken to make sure the integrity and preparation of an error-free electoral roll in Bihar, and in the remainder of the nation at a later stage. As a part of its directions, the Fee on Tuesday wrote to Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer, stating that July 1 can be the qualifying date for the SIR.
“The target of an intensified revision is to make sure that the names of all eligible residents are included within the electoral roll (ER) in order to allow them to train their franchise, no ineligible voter is included within the electoral rolls and in addition to introduce full transparency within the strategy of addition or deletion of electors within the electoral rolls,” ECI mentioned within the assertion.
ECI mentioned that as Bihar elections are due later this 12 months, the state would be the first to endure the SIR. Nevertheless, the schedule for the SIR in the remainder of the nation shall be issued individually sooner or later, ECI mentioned within the set of directions.
“Because the final intensive revision in Bihar was undertaken in 2003, the electoral registration officers shall deal with the electoral roll of 2003 with qualifying date of January 1, 2003, as probative proof of eligibility, together with presumption of citizenship except they obtain some other enter in any other case. Any particular person whose identify is just not recorded within the 2003 electoral roll shall, for the aim of registration within the electoral roll, be required to submit from amongst a variety of eligible authorities paperwork as prescribed for establishing their eligibility to be an elector,” Sanjay Kumar mentioned.
He mentioned that fast urbanisation and frequent migration on account of schooling, livelihood and different causes had develop into common developments. “Some electors get hold of registration in a single place after which shift their residence and register themselves at one other place with out getting their names deleted from the electoral roll of the preliminary place of residence. This has led to elevated chance of repeated entries within the electoral roll. Thus, the scenario warrants an intensive verification drive to confirm every particular person earlier than enrolment as an elector,” he added.
On prime of the annual Particular Abstract Revision (SSR), printed on January 6, 2025, and repeatedly up to date since then, the deputy election commissioner directed {that a} “pre-filled enumeration type” shall be made out there to each current elector as on June 24 and the draft roll shall embrace the names of all of the electors in Bihar who’ve submitted a duly stuffed enumeration type earlier than July 25, 2025.
The process laid down by the Fee, as a part of its press launch, to conduct this train are: “EROs will print pre-filled Enumeration Kind (EF)–which may have EPIC quantity, constituency identify, tackle, mother and father identify, cellular quantity, and Aadhaar (non-compulsory)– for all current electors as on the date of the order and provides it to BLOs, who will distribute EFs to all current electors by way of house-to-house go to. EF shall be [also] out there on the ECI web site/ECINET which will be downloaded by an elector whose identify is within the electoral roll as on the date of the order…BLOs to information the general public on filling up of EF…BLOs to gather EFs from the general public together with required paperwork. Alternatively, current elector may add the EF and paperwork on-line. BLO Supervisor to verify the BLO’s qualitative & quantitative output. Draft Electoral Roll to be ready of all electors whose EF have been acquired.”
“This being an intensive revision, in case enumeration type is just not submitted earlier than July 25, 2025, the identify of the elector can’t be included in draft rolls. Nevertheless, the chief electoral officer, district electoral officer, electoral registration officer, sales space stage officer also needs to take care that real electors, notably previous, sick, individuals with disabilities, poor and different weak teams will not be harassed and are facilitated to the extent potential,” Kumar wrote within the set of directions.
Representatives of recognised political events shall be a part of the method. After claims and objections, the ultimate roll shall be launched.
In 2003, intensive revision was carried out in seven states, whereas all different states had a particular abstract revision. In 2004, a particular abstract revision was undertaken in the whole nation.
There are 4 kinds of abstract revisions of the electoral rolls: Intensive revision; abstract revision, the place the roll is solely up to date and there’s no house-to-house enumeration; particular abstract revision, the place ECI might order house-to-house verification and undertake adjustments within the current process appropriate to the precise circumstances; and partly intensive and partly abstract revision, the place the prevailing electoral rolls are printed in draft and, concurrently, enumerators or the BLOs are despatched to the households for verification.
Electoral rolls have taken centre stage within the political controversy. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has intensified allegations of electoral roll manipulation in Maharashtra, citing a sudden 40.81 lakh spike in electors between the 2024 Lok Sabha and Meeting elections, in comparison with 31 lakh over the earlier 5 years. He demanded the discharge of machine-readable voter rolls and CCTV footage, and on Tuesday alleged irregularities in CM Devendra Fadnavis’ constituency based mostly on a information report. Fadnavis countered that voters/electors surge additionally occurred in Congress-won seats. The ECI mentioned it had invited Gandhi for discussions on June 12 however acquired no response. Maharashtra’s Chief Electoral Officer had earlier clarified the additions had been routine, principally involving younger voters, with over 1.39 crore additions and 1.07 crore deletions–of electors–between 2019 meeting elections and 2024 Lok Sabha elections; whereas 48.82 lakh addition of electors and eight lakh deletions between LS 2024 elections and Meeting 2024 elections in Maharashtra.
