🗳️ 61 Lakh Names Missing: What Bihar’s Draft Electoral Roll Reveals
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has revealed that nearly 61 lakh names may be excluded from Bihar’s updated draft electoral rolls to be published on August 1st. This dramatic change follows the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) — an exercise last undertaken in 2003.
Let’s break down what the numbers show:
Total voters before SIR (2003 base): 7.89 crore
New enumeration forms received: 7.21 crore
Gap: ~61 lakh potential exclusions
The reasons cited are:
21 lakh are reportedly deceased
31 lakh have migrated from Bihar
7 lakh appear in multiple constituencies
1 lakh are untraceable
But that still leaves ~8 lakh people excluded without clearly documented reasons. What’s more concerning? Many of them lack the “valid” documents now required — with Aadhaar and ration cards disqualified as acceptable proof.
Here are the concerns we must reflect on:
🔹 Timing: The revision is happening just 3 months before elections, causing panic and logistical challenges.
🔹 Pace: The enumeration process is being carried out at a rapid pace with little public awareness.
🔹 Documentation Hurdles: Excluding widely held IDs like Aadhaar/ration cards makes the process inaccessible, especially for the rural and migrant population.
While the ECI has full constitutional backing (Article 324 & Representation of People Act 1950), the impact on legitimate voters—especially migrants and youth—is worrisome.
Even 0.1% exclusion of eligible voters is not just a statistic—it’s a democratic cost.
This is a moment for reflection, not reaction. Let the judiciary do its work—but as citizens, let’s understand the stakes and advocate for transparent, inclusive electoral processes.
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