Bihar Voter List Revision Excludes 35.6 Lakh Names as Deadline Approaches

The ongoing Special Intensive Revision process by the Election Commission (EC) has led to the removal of over 35.6 lakh names from the voter list in Bihar. This significant revision comes ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, with the EC stating that it has surpassed 88% of the total voting population in the state as of today. The revision aims to ensure the accuracy of the voter list by filtering out invalid entries.

As part of this extensive exercise, the EC reported that approximately 12.55 lakh individuals, or 1.59% of registered voters, have been identified as deceased. Additionally, around 17.37 lakh voters, accounting for 2.2%, have permanently moved out of the state, while 5.76 lakh entries were flagged as duplicates, representing 0.73% of the total. These findings underscore the need for regular updates to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.

Efforts to Enhance Voter Participation

The EC has emphasized that 6.60 crore voters, or 83.66% of the estimated 7.90 crore registered voters, have already submitted their enumeration forms. The commission noted that 88.18% of electors have either submitted their forms, are deceased, or have relocated. This leaves only 11.82% of electors yet to complete their submissions, many of whom have requested additional time to do so.

To facilitate this process, the EC has conducted two rounds of door-to-door visits by booth level officers (BLOs). A third round is set to commence shortly, involving nearly 100,000 BLOs. Additionally, political parties have appointed around 1.5 lakh booth level agents to assist voters in completing their forms, with each agent capable of certifying up to 50 forms per day.

To ensure that all eligible urban voters are included, special camps are being established in all 5,683 wards across 261 urban local bodies in Bihar. These initiatives aim to reach voters who have temporarily migrated out of the state, with the EC employing advertisements and direct outreach to encourage timely submissions.

Technological Advancements in Voter Registration

The newly launched ECINet platform is playing a crucial role in accelerating the voter registration process. The system has facilitated the uploading of over 5.74 crore enumeration forms by the evening of Monday. The document review module within ECINet has streamlined the verification of voter eligibility by electoral officials.

The EC has highlighted that this integrated platform, designed to replace 40 previous applications, enhances efficiency across all aspects of the Bihar Special Intensive Revision exercise. Voters can complete their forms online or through mobile devices via the ECINet App, allowing for a more accessible registration process. Additionally, electors can verify their names against the previous voter list from 2003 and connect directly with election officials for assistance.

As the deadline for submissions approaches, the commission urges all eligible voters to participate actively in this vital process, ensuring their voices are heard in the upcoming elections. The draft voter list is set to be published on August 1, 2023, marking a critical milestone in the electoral preparations for Bihar.