How Election Commission plans to weed out doubtful voters in Bihar ahead of polls

The Election Commission on Friday released the draft electoral rolls for poll-bound Bihar, removing over 65 lakh names after an extensive verification exercise aimed at identifying individuals who had either died or migrated. Following the release of the draft rolls, the next phase involves a comprehensive drive to identify ‘D-voters’ (doubtful voters).

This initiative will focus on two key identification markers and aims to clarify the status of voters flagged under suspicion categories.

The first set of markers targets individuals who have either wilfully not submitted required documents or those whom Booth Level Officers (BLOs) could not trace. These include suspected ghost voters and foreign nationals lacking verifiable documents or proof of residence.

Such individuals are subject to scrutiny via a claims and objections mechanism, open until September 1. This mechanism is crucial as it allows individuals to present their case and rectify any discrepancies, ensuring that only eligible voters are included.

A second set comprises individuals already flagged as suspicious by local intelligence units. This group involves suspected foreign nationals, who are being assessed on their linkage to the 2003 voter list. The scrutiny focusses on cases where individuals hold documents but cannot trace their lineage to the 2003 record.

The authority for communication with identified foreign nationals has been delegated to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). Suspected individuals are expected to receive communication requesting proof of their legal status, failing which they will be excluded from the final list by the end of September.

The election commission has identified regions where potential resistance might occur. Local leaders in these areas are actively communicating with the administration, though officials report supportive ground sentiment in efforts to identify foreign nationals.

The administration expects minimal large-scale pushback, which indicates a cooperative environment and community support for the initiative.

Priority has been set to first address claims and objections raised by individuals or groups questioning their status on the voter list. By mid-August, EROs are anticipated to commence formal communications with those suspected of being foreign nationals to verify their credentials.

The ECI, along with local administrative bodies, remains optimistic about successfully removing ineligible foreign nationals from the list before the final publication.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar has sparked a major controversy, with the Opposition strongly protesting the exercise, calling it an "exercise in exclusion" and a "conspiracy" to disenfranchise certain communities and sections that form its core vote bank. The issue has led to repeated adjournments in Parliament and is currently being heard by the Supreme Court.

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