New Delhi: A “large number” of foreigners have been found enrolled in Bihar’s electoral rolls during the Election Commission of India’s ongoing Special Summary Revision, officials said, prompting a sweeping verification process aimed at weeding out ineligible voters ahead of the state assembly elections.
According to officials involved in the process, door-to-door verification across Bihar has identified individuals from countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar registered on the state’s voter list. The Election Commission has directed electoral officials to launch a full inquiry starting August 1, with the aim of finalising a corrected electoral roll by September 30.
The revision drive, which began earlier this year, mandates voters to submit Form 1 declaring their place of birth. As of July 11, around 80.11% of the total voters in Bihar had submitted their forms, while the deadline for submission remains open until July 25.
“This exercise is being done under the provisions of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act. If there are illegal migrants, they have no place in the electoral roll,” said an ECI official, as quoted by Hindustan Times.
The revision has triggered political backlash and legal challenges, with opposition leaders alleging it could lead to mass disenfranchisement, particularly of migrants, minorities and marginalised communities. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called the process “dangerous and bizarre”, suggesting it was a move to alter the voter base ahead of elections.
The Supreme Court, which is hearing multiple petitions challenging the exercise, has directed the Election Commission to accept additional documents — such as Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards — as valid proofs for the verification process. The court has also asked the poll body whether such a sensitive and extensive revision is advisable just months ahead of a state election. The next hearing is scheduled for July 28.
Critics have also pointed out that the revision disproportionately affects migrant workers from Bihar living in other states. Several reports suggest that these individuals, who are temporarily away from home, are at risk of being left out of the updated voter roll due to non-submission of documents.
Despite the criticism, the Election Commission has maintained that the objective of the exercise is to create a clean and accurate voter list. The final publication of the rolls is expected to significantly influence the voter base ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, scheduled for October-November this year.