Given the complexities, the ECI’s voter verification drive has made political parties jittery and voters nervous
With elections in Bihar barely a couple of months away, a political storm is sweeping the state. And it is not political campaigning — it is the voter verification drive ordered by the Election Commission of India (ECI). It is feared that millions of voters would be disenfranchised by the ECI’s decision seeking fresh documentation from voters — both existing and new — as part of a special intensive revision of electoral rolls. With millions scrambling to procure residence, caste or other specified documents, the INDIA bloc (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) is up in arms, accusing the move of being a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise marginalised communities and young voters — traditionally their core support base.
The ECI’s new directives require that anyone not listed in the 2003 electoral rolls, or not descended from someone who was, must now produce one of 11 officially notified documents to prove citizenship and identity. These include caste certificates, land allotment papers, permanent residence certificates and a few others. The normally held documents like Aadhaar cards, MGNREGA job cards or even voter ID cards are no longer valid. This sudden directive, with a mere 25-day window for compliance, has sparked panic and confusion across the state. Voters, especially in rural areas, are scrambling to obtain the necessary paperwork, but given the complexity of the mandate, a large number of voters may not be able to participate in the elections to be held in October–November this year. Many — especially women, young voters, and daily wage earners — do not possess the requisite documents and lack the time, information and resources to furnish them.
The concern of disenfranchising the marginalised is not ill-founded. The process of procuring these documents is not only tedious but also unfamiliar and daunting, especially for those working outside the state or unaware of the new requirements. Moreover, it is near impossible for 7.8 crore electors to be verified with a deadline looming at the end of July. The INDIA bloc, particularly the RJD and Congress, has accused the ECI of acting under pressure to carry out what they term a “selective voter cleansing” operation. Given the concerns raised by political parties, the public, and even bureaucrats about the feasibility of this exercise, the ECI must reconsider its decision as it impacts the poor, the uneducated, the youth, and those working as migrant labourers. Besides, why the voter ID cards issued by the Government itself cannot be used as valid document is incomprehensible.
The Election Commission, on its part, maintains that the process is a legitimate step to update and cleanse voter rolls and ensure citizenship verification. So far, only about three per cent have successfully uploaded their documents to the ECI portal, underscoring the logistical challenge. The ECI also points out that similar revisions were carried out in 2003 and that the documentation now sought is standard for establishing identity and domicile. However, the timing, urgency, and intensity of the rollout raises several questions.
If it was so necessary, it could have been started well in advance and not just months away from elections. Whether the ECI will reconsider the timeline or relax norms remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: the road to the Bihar elections just got a lot bumpier.
