Patna:
As part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that more than 80% of voters in the state have turned in their Voter Enumeration Forms (EFs), marking a significant development ahead of the Bihar assembly elections. A significant milestone in the voter verification process was reached on Friday when the ECI confirmed that roughly 6.33 crore forms had been submitted by 6 PM.
In order to guarantee a free and fair election, the SIR exercise, which was started on June 24, attempts to update and purify the electoral rolls. With over 80.11 percent of the enumeration forms already collected, officials are now concentrating on encouraging submissions from the remaining population, especially in urban centers where response has been slow. Bihar's total electorate is approximately 7.9 crore.
Officials report that while submission rates in cities are still low, rural participation has been significantly higher, with 77% of enumeration forms being collected in villages. In order to rectify this disparity, the ECI has made use of extra resources and sent out calls to urban voters to finish the process by the deadline of July 25.
Gyanesh Kumar, the chief election commissioner, has guaranteed that the exercise is being carried out in complete accordance with the Supreme Court's orders. "The revision is proceeding without any issues," he stated. "No eligible voter will be disqualified. We are dedicated to holding a free and fair election in Bihar.
In accordance with recent Supreme Court rulings, the ECI has made it clear that Aadhaar, voter ID cards, and ration cards will all be recognized as legitimate forms of identification throughout the revision process. The court had previously asked the Commission to make sure that no voter is excluded for not having a single document, but it had declined to stay the roll revision.
Inconsistencies in the voter rolls have also been discovered by the enumeration effort. Foreign nationals, including those from Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Nepal, were identified as voters in a number of districts, according to officials. These entries are currently being eliminated from the draft list after a thorough review. In order to guarantee accuracy and assist voters in filling out the necessary forms, more than 77,000 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and 20,000 other employees are making door-to-door visits.
After claims and objections are addressed after the draft list is released on August 1, the final electoral roll is anticipated to be published on September 30. According to the ECI, this period of time is necessary to guarantee a perfect list prior to elections.
There has been some controversy surrounding the revision process. The timing and possible disenfranchisement have drawn criticism from opposition parties such as the RJD, Congress, and CPI (M-L). The Supreme Court is currently considering over ten petitions contesting the procedure. The ECI, however, insists that the procedure is being carried out openly and with sufficient security. The SIR campaign in Bihar is becoming one of the most widespread voter revision drives in recent years, with over 80% of voters having already taken part.
Increased public awareness and confidence in the electoral process are indicated by the high turnout. Reaffirming India's democratic strength at the local level, if it is successfully completed, it may serve as a model for other states getting ready for elections.
