Bihar's New Voter Rolls Spark Controversy Over Inaccuracies and Allegations of Exclusion

India's Election Commission recently released updated electoral rolls for Bihar, revealing discrepancies such as incorrect photographs and duplicate entries. Opposition parties claim that these inconsistencies and potential disenfranchisement primarily target marginalized groups, particularly Muslims, in advance of the upcoming state elections.

The recent release of updated draft electoral rolls in Bihar, India, has ignited controversy among political opponents and civil society groups following allegations of inaccuracies, including the listing of deceased individuals and incorrect photographs. With key state elections approaching in November, the updated rolls, which total 72.4 million names—6.5 million fewer than the previous total—are under scrutiny.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative, conducted from late June to late July, aimed to ensure up-to-date voter registration by verifying each of the state's 78.9 million residents. However, findings shared with the BBC reveal that many voters are voicing frustrations over discrepancies in the draft rolls, including accusations that the process was rushed and poorly executed.

Political opposition claims that voter deletions appear politically motivated, particularly targeting Muslim communities in border districts where support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is lacking. The Election Commission has denied these accusations, asserting that no eligible voter would be excluded in their revised process. However, they have not published the specifics regarding the names that were deleted, limiting the ability to independently verify opposition claims.

Reports indicated significant voter deletions in districts like Kishanganj, which is known for its high percentage of Muslim residents, resulting in further suspicion of potential voter suppression tactics. As these allegations have surfaced, parliamentary sessions have faced interruptions as opposition members press for a thorough debate over what they consider a significant threat to democracy.

Legal watchdogs, like the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), have raised alarm, claiming the process could disenfranchise countless eligible voters in a state already struggling with poverty and marginalization. Many argue that the burden is unreasonably placed upon low-income individuals, requiring them to produce documentation that may be impossible to procure under tight deadlines.

Voter interviews in Patna and surrounding villages reveal widespread confusion and lack of awareness about the details of the SIR process, with many expressing deep concern that losing their voting rights could further deepen their impoverished circumstances. Residents including Rekha Devi voiced that their voting rights are vital for accessing critical government benefits.

With the opposition questioning the thoroughness of the SIR process and local Block Level Officers (BLOs) reportedly failing to perform their duties, the situation remains tense. While the ruling parties assert their support for the Election Commission's efforts to streamline voter registrations, accusations of political bias loom large.

Amidst these tensions, the Supreme Court has been asked to review the process, with the possibility that the SIR operations may need to be decoupled from the forthcoming elections to ensure a more thorough investigation of these serious claims.