Electoral Rolls for Bihar to be Prepared Afresh

Syllabus: GS2/Polity and Governance

Context

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked for the electoral rolls for Bihar to be prepared afresh. 

About

• All electors must submit an enumeration form, and those registered after 2003 have to additionally provide documentation establishing their citizenship.
• This special intensive revision (SIV) of rolls will eventually cover all states and Union Territories. 
• Reasons for the SIV: Rapid urbanisation, frequent migration, young citizens becoming eligible to vote, non-reporting of deaths and inclusion of the names of foreign illegal immigrants have necessitated the conduct.
• The booth level officers (BLOs) will make house to house verification of voters.
• The last intensive revision for Bihar was conducted by the Commission in 2003.

Provision in RPA

• As per the Section 21(3) of The Representation of the People Act, 1950 the Election Commission “may at any time… direct a special revision of the electoral roll for any constituency or part of a constituency in such manner as it may think fit”.
• The revision of rolls can be carried out “either intensively or summarily or partly intensively and partly summarily, as the (ECI) may direct”.
  • In an intensive revision, the electoral roll is prepared afresh and in a summary revision, the roll is amended.
• Intensive revisions have been carried out in 1952-56, 1957, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1983-84, 1987-89, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Eligibility to be a Registered Voter in India

• Article 326 of the Constitution stipulates that: every person who is a citizen of India & who is not less than 18 years of age on the qualifying date & is not otherwise disqualified under any law shall be entitled to be registered in the electoral roll.
• Section 16 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 disqualifies a person from being registered on an electoral roll if:
  • they are not a citizen of India,
  • are of unsound mind, as declared by a competent court, or
  • are disqualified under any law relating to corrupt practices or offences in connection with elections.

Procedure for Voter Registration

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) mandates new voters to apply using Form 6.
• Applicants must submit:
  • Self-attested proof of age and address (such as utility bills, passport, etc.)
  • A declaration of Indian citizenship, which they must personally sign.
  • Proof of citizenship (such as passport or birth certificate) is not strictly required unless the ERO suspects the applicant’s credentials.
• Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are responsible for verifying the applications. The process includes:
  • Verification of documents,
  • Hearings for claims and objections,
  • Acceptance or rejection of the application.
• Section 31 of the RP Act, 1950 penalizes false declarations in voter applications.

Source: IE