Controversy Erupts Over Bihar's New Voter Rolls Amid Dead and Incorrect Entries

The newly released draft electoral rolls in Bihar have stirred controversy due to the inclusion of deceased individuals and incorrect photographs. Opposition parties and election watchdogs allege rushed procedures threaten voter disenfranchisement, particularly among marginalized communities. Amid calls for accountability, the Election Commission stands by their revisions.

The recent unveiling of updated draft electoral rolls in Bihar has incited significant backlash as voters note alarming irregularities, including the presence of deceased individuals and erroneous photographs alongside their names. With key elections approaching in November, the timing of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has drawn sharp criticism from various political factions and election advocates, suggesting that the process was conducted hastily.

According to a statement from the Election Commission, the new draft rolls have reduced the number of voters from 78.9 million to 72.4 million, a decrease of 6.5 million names. They attribute this reduction to the removal of 2.2 million deceased voters, 700,000 duplicates, and 3.6 million individuals who have migrated out of the state. Despite these assertions, many voters have raised complaints about the inaccuracies they have encountered after the revisions were carried out from June 25 to July 26.

Opposition political parties, particularly those aligned with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), have accused the Commission of deliberately disenfranchising voters, particularly among Muslim populations in border districts. However, officials from the Election Commission and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have rejected these allegations as unfounded. The Commission has stated that it is committed to ensuring all eligible voters are accounted for and that it does not endorse any claims of misinformation that are purportedly made by those aiming to undermine the process.

Reports demonstrate that numerous individuals have uncovered significant errors in their voter registrations. One voter detailed that his family’s information was riddled with inaccuracies, including the listing of a deceased relative and the wrong photo placements. Locals have expressed their frustration, noting that many were uninformed about the SIR, despite its implications on their vital right to vote.

The opposition is poised to challenge the validity of the SIR in the Supreme Court, arguing that the flawed process may disenfranchise millions of eligible voters in a state that has marked economic challenges. With the deadline for corrections set for September 1, over 165,000 requests have already been submitted by those seeking to rectify errors.

As debates continue in Parliament, opposition members demand a thorough discussion on what they deem a threat to democratic practices, while supporters of the SIR across the ruling parties assert the necessity of accuracy in voter representation. The continuing discourse highlights the sensitive intersection of electoral processes and civic rights in one of India’s historically impoverished states. Amidst these disputes, many voters resonate with the sentiment that losing their voting rights could result in a deeper descent into poverty, underscoring the stakes of the ongoing electoral discourse in Bihar.