With Bihar's upcoming elections, the newly drafted electoral rolls have faced severe backlash over inaccuracies, including the inclusion of deceased individuals and incorrect photographs. Opposition parties allege that the process disproportionately affects marginalized communities, raising concerns about voter disenfranchisement.
Electoral Discrepancies Emerge in Bihar's New Voter Lists Ahead of Elections
Electoral Discrepancies Emerge in Bihar's New Voter Lists Ahead of Elections
Controversies surround the newly released electoral rolls in Bihar, as errors and disenfranchisement claims rise ahead of crucial state elections.
In Bihar, the freshly released draft electoral rolls by the Election Commission have sparked significant controversy just weeks before the state is set to hold key elections in November. The updated list reportedly features around 72.4 million voters—6.5 million fewer than the previous count—raising alarms among opposition parties and election watchdogs regarding potential voter disenfranchisement.
Conducted between June 25 and July 26, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) aimed to verify the details of each of Bihar's 78.9 million registered voters. Yet many locals have expressed frustration over discrepancies in the rolls, including the presence of incorrect photographs and the names of deceased individuals. According to the Election Commission, the reductions in the voter list primarily account for 2.2 million deceased individuals, 700,000 duplicated entries, and 3.6 million voters who have moved out of state.
Critics, however, assert that the review was rushed and disproportionately impacted specific demographics, particularly Muslim voters in border districts, suggesting a manipulation intended to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Both the Election Commission and BJP have dismissed these claims, emphasizing a commitment to ensuring all eligible voters were accounted for.
Opposition leaders have taken the matter to Parliament, demanding a thorough debate amid chants denouncing the Prime Minister and accusing the SIR of endangering democratic processes. Furthermore, watchdog organizations like the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have expressed concerns over the legitimacy of the data collection process during the SIR, suggesting it places undue burdens on citizens, particularly marginal communities.
During a field visit for local reactions, many citizens residing in rural areas revealed a lack of awareness about the implications of the SIR, despite their deep investment in electoral participation. Residents cited personal stories that echoed the systemic issues; for instance, discrepancies in family details and inexplicable entries of deceased individuals plagued their records.
As discussions unfold in the Supreme Court regarding the SIR's legitimacy, concerns about its timing—just three months before elections—persist, spotlighting an ongoing struggle between political parties and electoral authorities about the integrity of the voting process in Bihar.
Conducted between June 25 and July 26, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) aimed to verify the details of each of Bihar's 78.9 million registered voters. Yet many locals have expressed frustration over discrepancies in the rolls, including the presence of incorrect photographs and the names of deceased individuals. According to the Election Commission, the reductions in the voter list primarily account for 2.2 million deceased individuals, 700,000 duplicated entries, and 3.6 million voters who have moved out of state.
Critics, however, assert that the review was rushed and disproportionately impacted specific demographics, particularly Muslim voters in border districts, suggesting a manipulation intended to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Both the Election Commission and BJP have dismissed these claims, emphasizing a commitment to ensuring all eligible voters were accounted for.
Opposition leaders have taken the matter to Parliament, demanding a thorough debate amid chants denouncing the Prime Minister and accusing the SIR of endangering democratic processes. Furthermore, watchdog organizations like the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have expressed concerns over the legitimacy of the data collection process during the SIR, suggesting it places undue burdens on citizens, particularly marginal communities.
During a field visit for local reactions, many citizens residing in rural areas revealed a lack of awareness about the implications of the SIR, despite their deep investment in electoral participation. Residents cited personal stories that echoed the systemic issues; for instance, discrepancies in family details and inexplicable entries of deceased individuals plagued their records.
As discussions unfold in the Supreme Court regarding the SIR's legitimacy, concerns about its timing—just three months before elections—persist, spotlighting an ongoing struggle between political parties and electoral authorities about the integrity of the voting process in Bihar.
