Is the Election Commission Covering 95% of Electors in Bihar Under SIR?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 94.68% of voters in Bihar covered under SIR
- Deadline for submitting corrections: August 31
- Final electoral roll publication on September 30
- Aggrieved voters can appeal to local authorities
- Collaboration with party agents aims to enhance trust
New Delhi, July 18 (NationPress) The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Friday that 94.68 percent of the electorate in Bihar has been effectively included in the current Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, with only seven days left for the enumeration phase to conclude.
The draft electoral roll is set to be released on August 1, allowing political parties and citizens a full month to propose corrections or additions, as stated in a press release.
Out of the total 7.89 crore voters in Bihar, over 7.11 crore enumeration forms have been collected, and 6.85 crore have already been digitized.
However, approximately 41 lakh forms remain pending, with around 36.8 lakh voters unable to be located at their registered addresses.
This includes over 12.7 lakh individuals presumed deceased, 18.1 lakh who may have moved permanently, and 5.9 lakh who are registered at multiple locations.
To enhance transparency and accuracy, the ECI has distributed lists of these voters to district presidents of political parties and over 1.5 lakh booth level agents (BLAs) assigned by them.
Each BLA can submit up to 50 certified forms daily until July 25.
This collaborative effort aims to ensure that no eligible voter is excluded.
The finalized electoral roll will be published on September 30, after the resolution of claims and objections by September 25.
Both printed and digital copies will be available to recognized political parties and on the ECI website.
Aggrieved voters can appeal to the District Magistrate or the Chief Electoral Officer under Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
This revision is particularly significant as the Bihar Assembly elections are anticipated later this year.
The ECI's proactive steps demonstrate its commitment to preserving the integrity of the electoral process in a politically charged state like Bihar, where voter rolls have often been contentious.
Political analysts suggest that the involvement of party-appointed BLAs in the verification process may alleviate allegations of bias and foster public confidence.
With the final roll due in September, preparations for a critical electoral battle are unfolding.