Electoral roll revision: EC relaxes voter roll norms in Bihar, documents can follow later

NEW DELHI: Days aft the absorption dubbed EC's peculiar intensive revision of electoral rolls arsenic "votebandi," the canvass assemblage connected Sunday eased the rules of the ongoing workout for Bihar voters.In an advertisement carried successful Hindi newspapers, Bihar main electoral serviceman has present asked voters to taxable forms without the required documents, which tin beryllium submitted later."As soon arsenic you person the enumeration signifier from the BLO, capable it instantly and taxable it to the BLO on with the required documents and photograph," the advertisement said."If you bash not person the indispensable documents, past taxable lone the filled enumeration signifier to the BLO," it added."If you supply the required documents, it volition assistance the Electoral Registration Officer to process your exertion much easily. If you are incapable to taxable the required documents, the Electoral Registration Officer whitethorn instrumentality a determination based connected a section enquiry oregon verification of different supporting documents," the advertisement further read.This comes aft the absorption objected to the ongoing intensive revision of the electoral rolls successful Bihar conscionable months up of the upcoming assembly elections.

A delegation of 11 parties met the EC and claimed that this volition enactment ideology successful Bihar "under threat".Calling the workout 'votebandi,' CPM's Dipankar Bhattacharya claimed that the Commission admitted that 20% of Bihar's voters reside extracurricular the state, which efficaciously means they could suffer their close to vote."This is thing little than 'votebandi' for Bihar," helium said, comparing the workout to the demonetisation, oregon 'notebandi', carried retired successful 2016."There seems to beryllium a nonaccomplishment connected our portion to person the Election Commission that 1 period is not capable for lakhs of voters to taxable recognition documents. Democracy successful Bihar is nether threat. A large people's question is present necessary," helium added.On Saturday, erstwhile Bihar main curate Rabri Devi asked the radical to "refuse" to amusement immoderate documents to the officials.According to the canvass body, it is portion of its crackdown connected amerciable immigrants from countries similar Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.The canvass sheet reminded the law proviso that says lone Indian citizens tin vote. "The Constitution of India is supreme. All citizens, governmental parties, and the Election Commission of India travel the Constitution," EC said successful a statement.The canvass sheet already has astir 78,000 booth-level officers (BLOs) and is appointing implicit 20,000 much for caller polling stations, it said.More than 1 lakh volunteers volition beryllium assisting genuine electors, peculiarly the old, sick, persons with disabilities, poor, and different susceptible groups during the peculiar intensive revision.Out of the existing 7,89,69,844 electors, 4.96 crore electors, whose names are already successful the past intensive revision of the Electoral Roll connected January 1, 2003, person to "simply verify so, capable the Enumeration Form and taxable it."The enumeration signifier should beryllium filled betwixt 25 June and 26 July, aft which the draught elector database volition beryllium published connected 1 August 2025; the play for filing claims and objections volition beryllium from 1 August to 1 September, and the last elector database volition beryllium published connected 30 September.