Bihar Electoral Roll Revision Raises Concerns of Voter Exclusion Ahead of Assembly Elections

Bihar Electoral Roll Revision Raises Concerns of Voter Exclusion Ahead of Assembly Elections

Why in News

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched a “Special Intensive Revision” of electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in October 2025. While the revision aims to ensure electoral accuracy, experts and civil society have raised alarms about the rushed process potentially disenfranchising a significant number of eligible voters, especially from poor and marginalised communities.

Introduction

India’s democratic strength lies in the inclusive participation of all its citizens, especially the underprivileged. The ECI has historically played a crucial role in simplifying the voter registration process. However, its recent decision to fast-track electoral roll revision in Bihar has sparked widespread concern due to its tight deadlines and complex documentation requirements, which may exclude genuine voters.

Key Issues and Background

• The ECI’s revision aims to add eligible voters and eliminate ineligible ones, including the deceased, those who have shifted residences, or non-citizens.

• The draft electoral rolls for Bihar, as of January 1, 2025, show a total of 7.96 crore electors.

• Out of 4.96 crore individuals who were on the 2003 electoral roll, many will not require fresh documents. For their children, a 2003 roll extract is sufficient for proof.

• However, due to migration and deaths over the past 22 years, The Hindu’s Data Point estimates around 1.8 crore individuals from the 2003 list are no longer alive or residing in Bihar.

Specific Impacts or Effects

• Only 3.16 crore living individuals from the 2003 list may qualify for simplified verification. This leaves around 4.74 crore people needing fresh documentation for enrolment.

• These 4.74 crore individuals must submit proof within a month of draft roll publication and raise objections within the next month—an extremely tight schedule for such a massive number.

• Many residents in Bihar lack birth certificates and other official documents like matriculation certificates or government-issued IDs, especially the poor and less educated.

• Surprisingly, Aadhaar and ration cards—widely held and easily accessible documents—are not on the ECI’s list of 11 acceptable proofs, making the situation more difficult for the marginalised.

Challenges and the Way Forward

1. Short Timeline: A one-month enrolment and objection period is inadequate, especially for the 4.74 crore individuals needing new documentation.

2. Limited Document Acceptability: The exclusion of Aadhaar and ration cards makes the process unnecessarily restrictive and fails to consider Bihar’s ground realities.

3. Historical Gaps in Registration: Bihar has historically lagged in birth registrations and access to government documents, further complicating the process.

4. Potential for Mass Exclusion: If rushed, the exercise could exclude millions from the electoral process, undermining democratic participation.

5. Need for a National Approach: A revision of this scale should ideally be extended across all states and timed to conclude before the 2029 general election.

Conclusion

While the goal of maintaining an accurate and up-to-date electoral roll is valid and constitutionally necessary, it must not come at the cost of disenfranchising genuine voters. The current strategy in Bihar appears too hasty, insufficiently inclusive, and lacking logistical foresight. The ECI must extend the timeline and revise its documentation requirements to uphold the spirit of democracy. Voter inclusion, especially for the poor and marginalised, must remain the core of India’s electoral process.

5 Questions and Answers

1. Why is the ECI conducting a special electoral roll revision in Bihar?
To ensure an accurate electoral roll ahead of the October 2025 Assembly elections, including adding new voters and removing ineligible ones.

2. What is the issue with using the 2003 electoral roll as a reference?
Many individuals from that roll have either died or migrated, making it outdated. An estimated 1.8 crore are no longer eligible.

3. How many people are expected to submit fresh documents?
Approximately 4.74 crore people may need to provide new documents for enrolment.

4. Why is there concern over the required documentation?
The list of acceptable documents is narrow, excluding Aadhaar and ration cards, which are more commonly available, especially in poorer communities.

5. What is the recommended solution?
Extend the timeline, revise the document list, and conduct the process across all states before the 2029 general election to ensure fairness and inclusion.