Election Omission – Why EC’s Revision in Bihar Needs a Reset, Not Exclusion
(Source: The Indian Express, Editorial Page)
Also Read:Â The Indian Express Editorial Analysis: 07 July 2025
Also Read:Â The Hindu Editorial Analysis: 07 July 2025
| Topic: GS Paper 2 – Governance, Polity, Electoral Reforms |
| Context |
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What is Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?
- Legal Framework: Conducted under Article 324 of the Constitution, and governed by the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 and Representation of the People Act, 1950.
- Objective: To ensure clean and updated electoral rolls by removing ineligible names (e.g., deceased, migrated, non-citizens) and including eligible but unregistered citizens.
- Previous Exercises: The last major SIR was conducted in 2003, followed by annual summaries. The 2025 Bihar revision marks the first intensive drive in over a decade.
Why This Exercise Is Controversial
- Poor Timing: Announced just four months before elections, it imposes a near-impossible timeline—about 3 crore voters in 30 days—especially during the monsoon and flood-prone period in Bihar.
- Extensive Documentation Requirements: People not listed in the 2003 electoral rolls must submit 11+ documents to prove eligibility, disproportionately affecting the poor, illiterate, and migrants.
- Low Awareness and Infrastructure Gaps: Only 3% of forms were uploaded as of last week. Many rural and marginalized voters lack knowledge of the process or access to online portals.
- NRC-like Anxiety: The scramble for documents and fear of being dropped from voter lists has triggered memories of NRC exercises in Assam, creating panic among SCs, STs, Muslims, elderly, and migrant labourers.
- Ambiguity in EC Communication: A recent EC clarification that “unenumerated forms can be submitted later” has created more confusion than relief.
The Bihar Context and Data
In 2007, the state launched its first digitized electoral roll reform. However, as of 2022:
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Only 14.71% of people had graduate certificates.
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Only 2% had valid passports.
This low documentation availability makes the current revision administratively flawed and socially regressive.
Electoral Reforms vs. Voter Exclusion
| Criteria | Progressive Electoral Reform | Current SIR in Bihar |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | After elections with consultation | 4 months before elections |
| Objective | Inclusion + accuracy | Primarily exclusion-focused |
| Public Awareness | Extensive campaigns | Minimal outreach |
| Documentation | Simplified with assistance | Complex, inaccessible to poor |
| Impact | Deeper democracy, inclusion | Risk of mass disenfranchisement |
Why This Matters for Indian Democracy
- The right to vote is a fundamental democratic right, even though not a fundamental right under the Constitution. It must be protected through inclusive and accessible processes, not bureaucratic hurdles.
- Bihar was once a model of electoral reform, especially with its success in increasing Dalit and women participation. The current revision threatens to undo those gains.
Way Forward/Conclusion
India’s democracy is not just about holding elections, but ensuring that every eligible citizen can vote without fear or exclusion. The EC must:
- Defer the SIR process until after elections.
- Launch targeted awareness drives, especially in rural and marginalized areas.
- Simplify documentation requirements with the help of local institutions.
- Engage with civil society and build mechanisms for feedback.
- Reaffirm the principle of universal suffrage and ensure institutional credibility.
Only through inclusive electoral reforms can India uphold the trust and legitimacy of its democratic processes.
| Practice Question: (GS-2 | 15 Marks | 250 Words) Critically examine the implications of the recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. How do procedural bottlenecks in voter roll revision affect the democratic fabric of India? |
