New Delhi: As many as 36.86 lakh voters could not be found at their registered addresses during Election Commission of India’s (ECI) ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar.
According to ECI, about 1.61% of the 7.90 crore registered voters are probably deceased electors (12.71 lakh), while 2.3% (18.16 lakh) have shifted base permanently. Less than one per cent (5.92 lakh) of the voters have been identified as enrolled at multiple places and 6,978 are not traceable, reported News18.
ECI has collected 7.11 crore enumeration forms, accounting for close to 90% of the registered voters in the state.
Taking into account the missing voters, the poll body has covered 95% of total voters in the state, with 5 per cent – 41.10 lakh – forms remaining to be collected in the remaining one week.
ECI, which will publish the draft Electoral Roll for Bihar on August 1, invited suggestions and inputs for correction of any entry in the draft Roll.
“In accordance with the SIR order, a full one month will be given to political parties and the public to point out the requirement of any correction, or propose inclusion of any left-out names. For this, printed and digital copies of the draft Electoral Roll will be given to the recognised political parties free of cost and will be posted on the ECI website for the public. Therefore, the public may remain assured that no eligible elector will be left out,” ECI said.
After disposing of claims and objections till September 25, the final Electoral Roll will be published on September 30.
If voters are aggrieved by any decision of the ERO, they can appeal to the District Magistrate and the Chief Electoral Officer.
Assembly election in Bihar will be held around October-November this year.
