🗳 Electoral Roll Revision in Bihar: A Wake-Up Call for India’s Democracy

India’s democratic strength rests on a simple promise: universal adult franchise. But today, this promise faces an unprecedented test.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched a "special intensive revision" of electoral rolls in Bihar — verifying the citizenship status of nearly 4 crore voters, covering almost 60% of the electorate. What’s being positioned as a routine cleanup may, in reality, be laying the groundwork for mass disenfranchisement.

Here’s why it matters:

🔍 The Legal & Constitutional Lens

Under Article 324 of the Constitution and Section 21 of the Representation of Peoples Act, the ECI is empowered to revise rolls — but the scale, speed, and methods of this exercise raise serious red flags.

📉 The Human Cost of Bureaucracy

Bihar has one of the lowest documentation coverage rates. Birth certificates, ID proof, and address records are often unavailable — especially among migrant workers, marginalized communities, and minority groups. Requiring proof of citizenship under tight deadlines, without legal safeguards or judicial review, could deny millions their right to vote.

⚖️ Is This About Roll Accuracy or Citizenship Filtering?

Critics warn this resembles the NRC-like approach seen in Assam — but without tribunals, clear guidelines, or accountability. The consequences could be politically tilted voter lists and democratic exclusion at scale.

🛠 What Should Be Done?

Electoral integrity does require accurate rolls. But the process must be:

Transparent and gradual.

Grounded in law, not executive discretion.

Supported by documentation assistance for vulnerable groups.

Subject to judicial and independent oversight.

This is more than a regional issue. It’s about India’s electoral credibility — ensuring that every Indian citizen has the right to be counted and to cast their vote.

Democracy demands inclusion, not exclusion.

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