Opposition claims rush to update voter rolls may disenfranchise citizens just months before crucial elections in Bihar.
Mistakes in Bihar's New Voter Rolls Spark Controversy Ahead of Elections
Mistakes in Bihar's New Voter Rolls Spark Controversy Ahead of Elections
Concerns arise over inaccuracies and alleged exclusion of voters in updated electoral lists.
In a recent release, India's Election Commission has unveiled a new draft of electoral rolls for the Bihar state, revealing a list that now comprises 72.4 million names—6.5 million fewer than the previous roll. The revision process, conducted under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative, ran from June 25 to July 26. Despite the commission’s assurance that its officials visited the homes of 78.9 million residents to verify information, many voters and critics allege that the status has led to inaccuracies, including wrong photos and the names of deceased individuals.
The current draft roll excludes individuals such as 2.2 million deceased, 700,000 duplicates, and 3.6 million who have left the state, provoking concerns from opposition parties and various election watchdogs. Accusations have emerged that the latest update disproportionately targets specific demographic groups, particularly Muslims, to favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming elections.
While the Election Commission defends its processes and claims to have received over 165,000 correction applications—with corrections remaining open until September 1—doubts linger about the validity of the data collected. Critics argue that the commission has not been transparent in sharing the list of deleted voters, which hampers their ability to hold the commission accountable for potential errors.
Reports, including findings from the Hindustan Times, highlight significant voter deletions in districts with high Muslim populations, but lack evidence to correlate them with specific religious demographics. In Parliament, opposition members have sought discussions on what they deem a threat to democratic practices. Jagdeep Chhokar from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) emphasizes that the rushed nature of the SIR could disenfranchise countless legitimate voters, suggesting that the application process is overwhelming for many residents, especially impoverished populations who may struggle to produce required documentation.
In rural areas like Patna, interviews reveal that many citizens remain uninformed about the SIR process. Residents express anxiety over losing their electoral rights, fearing further economic hardship. One villager, Tarkeshwar Singh, detailed the chaos surrounding the new rolls, pointing to multiple errors in his family’s information and instances of deceased relatives appearing on the list.
Chhokar plans to address these discrepancies in court but is confronted with the challenge of proving the exclusions without access to the necessary data. In the face of these controversies, the revision process has polarized Bihar’s political scene, with parties divided along lines of skepticism and support for the commission's actions.
Leading members from the ruling JD(U) and BJP have dismissed claims of partisan motives, asserting that the electoral process is simply addressing the presence of voters registered multiple times or illegitimately. They argue that the intention behind the SIR is to maintain the integrity of the electoral roll and ensure that only eligible voters participate.
As visible tension brews in Bihar ahead of the elections, the ramifications of the SIR on voter participation and democratic engagement remain an area of intense scrutiny and debate.
The current draft roll excludes individuals such as 2.2 million deceased, 700,000 duplicates, and 3.6 million who have left the state, provoking concerns from opposition parties and various election watchdogs. Accusations have emerged that the latest update disproportionately targets specific demographic groups, particularly Muslims, to favor Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming elections.
While the Election Commission defends its processes and claims to have received over 165,000 correction applications—with corrections remaining open until September 1—doubts linger about the validity of the data collected. Critics argue that the commission has not been transparent in sharing the list of deleted voters, which hampers their ability to hold the commission accountable for potential errors.
Reports, including findings from the Hindustan Times, highlight significant voter deletions in districts with high Muslim populations, but lack evidence to correlate them with specific religious demographics. In Parliament, opposition members have sought discussions on what they deem a threat to democratic practices. Jagdeep Chhokar from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) emphasizes that the rushed nature of the SIR could disenfranchise countless legitimate voters, suggesting that the application process is overwhelming for many residents, especially impoverished populations who may struggle to produce required documentation.
In rural areas like Patna, interviews reveal that many citizens remain uninformed about the SIR process. Residents express anxiety over losing their electoral rights, fearing further economic hardship. One villager, Tarkeshwar Singh, detailed the chaos surrounding the new rolls, pointing to multiple errors in his family’s information and instances of deceased relatives appearing on the list.
Chhokar plans to address these discrepancies in court but is confronted with the challenge of proving the exclusions without access to the necessary data. In the face of these controversies, the revision process has polarized Bihar’s political scene, with parties divided along lines of skepticism and support for the commission's actions.
Leading members from the ruling JD(U) and BJP have dismissed claims of partisan motives, asserting that the electoral process is simply addressing the presence of voters registered multiple times or illegitimately. They argue that the intention behind the SIR is to maintain the integrity of the electoral roll and ensure that only eligible voters participate.
As visible tension brews in Bihar ahead of the elections, the ramifications of the SIR on voter participation and democratic engagement remain an area of intense scrutiny and debate.
