Amidst significant opposition and public concern, the Election Commission (EC) has made a key decision regarding the document requirements for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. This revision, the first of its kind in the state since 2003, has faced criticism from opposition parties who fear it could lead to the disenfranchisement of voters, particularly those from marginalized communities.
Initially, the EC had mandated that individuals whose names were not recorded in the 2003 electoral rolls – an estimated 2.93 crore people – would need to submit at least one of eleven specified documents to verify their eligibility to vote. This requirement sparked an uproar, with opposition parties arguing that many residents, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, might struggle to provide the necessary paperwork. The EC's stated reasons for the revision included addressing concerns about the "inclusion of the names of foreign illegal immigrants," "frequent migration," young citizens becoming eligible to vote, and the non-reporting of deaths.
The list of eleven documents accepted by the EC included: Any identity card/pension Payment Order issued to regular employees/pensioners of Central or State governments or Public Sector Units (PSU); Any identity card/certificate/document issued in India by government/local authorities/banks/post office/LIC/PSUs prior to July 1, 1987; Birth certificates; Passports; Matriculation/educational certificates; Permanent residence certificates; Forest right certificates; and OBC/SC/ST or any caste certificates.
Acknowledging the concerns raised, the Election Commission has now stated that voters can still get verified in the electoral rolls as part of the SIR in Bihar even without submitting the initially mandatory documents. The specifics of how verification will proceed without these documents have yet to be fully clarified.
The socio-economic realities of Bihar have been central to the debate surrounding the document requirements. For example, a significant percentage of rural households in Bihar do not own land, making it difficult for them to provide land-related documents. Similarly, while a domicile certificate is accepted, obtaining one requires documentation that many may not readily possess.
Opposition leaders have actively voiced their concerns about the revision process. Rabri Devi, a former Bihar Chief Minister, urged people to "refuse" to show any documents other than their voter ID cards to poll officials. Other opposition parties met with the Election Commission, calling the revision "disastrous". A petition has even been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the EC's revision of the electoral roll in Bihar. The petition argues that the order shifts the onus of being on the voters' list from the state to citizens and excludes commonly used identification documents like Aadhaar or ration cards, making marginalized communities more vulnerable to exclusion from voting. It also alleges that the timeline for the SIR is unreasonable, given the proximity to the state elections, potentially disenfranchising lakhs of voters.
Despite the criticism, the Election Commission maintains that the revision is being conducted in accordance with the Constitution. The EC has also clarified that a significant portion of registered voters in Bihar (4.96 crore out of 7.89 crore) will not need to submit parental documents during the revision. This includes those already listed in the 2003 electoral rolls or born to such electors.
The Election Commission has uploaded the 2003 Bihar rolls on its website to facilitate easy access for both booth-level officers (BLOs) and voters. The coming weeks will be critical in determining the practical impact of the EC's decision to relax the mandatory document requirement and how it will address concerns about potential voter disenfranchisement during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision in Bihar.
