IAS/UPSC Coaching Institute  

08 Jul 2025 : Keep it simple

 Editorial 2: ​Keep it simple

Context

The ECI’s mixed messages put Bihar’s voter registration process at serious risk.

 

Introduction

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, aiming to clean and update the voter list. However, conflicting instructions, strict document requirements, and discretionary verifications are causing confusion and risk voter exclusion, especially among the poor and marginalised, undermining the spirit of universal adult franchise.

 

Issue with Voter Roll Revision in Bihar

  • The Election Commission of India (ECI) is conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.
  • Though it appears smooth on paper, the process has many confusions and contradictions.
  • Around 11% of voters have submitted forms — but that’s not the full picture.
  • Two different instructions from top officials have created uncertainty and mistrust.

 

Contradictions in ECI Instructions

Authority

Statement/Instruction

CEO, Bihar (via ads)

Voters without 11 documents could still apply by giving forms and providing documents later.

CEC (Central EC)

Said that document submission by July 25, 2025 is mandatory.
 

Claims and objections period is from August 1 to September 1, 2025.
  • This shift in stance has created confusion for voters and ground staff.
  • Local officers now have discretion to accept or reject applications based on field verification.

 

Concerns with the Current Approach

  • Relying on local-level verification increases chances of:
    • Misuse of power
    • Biased decisions
    • Wrongful inclusion/exclusion
  • The current process risks disenfranchising genuine voters, especially the poor and marginalised.

 

Challenges Faced by Voters in Bihar

Problem

Impact on Voters

Poor documentation

Many voters don’t have birth certificates, school records, etc.

Rigid document requirement

Voters without the listed 11 documents may be excluded from the rolls

Bureaucratic hurdles

Marginalised groups face more difficulty in dealing with official processes

Presumption of non-citizenship

Voters are treated as non-citizens unless they can prove otherwise

 

What Should Be Done

  • ECI should widen the list of acceptable documents, such as:
    • Aadhaar cards
    • Ration cards
    • MGNREGA job cards

Document

Why It Should Be Accepted

Aadhaar

Used widely across services; almost everyone has one

Ration Card

Common among rural and low-income families

MGNREGA Job Card

Held by many in the agrarian population for government employment benefits
  • These documents are realistic, widely available, and should be acceptable proof of identity.

 

Upholding the Right to Vote

  • The right to vote is a constitutional right.
  • The ECI must remove unnecessary hurdles and make the process inclusive.
  • The Supreme Court is set to hear petitions on this issue — but action from ECI is needed now.
  • The current SIR process must be revised to ensure no eligible citizen is left out.

 

Conclusion

To protect the right to vote, the ECI must ensure the process is inclusive and fair. Accepting widely-held documents like Aadhaar, ration cards, and MGNREGA job cards will prevent mass disenfranchisement. In a democracy, the burden must not be on citizens to prove they belong — it is the state’s duty to enable every eligible voter.