Bihar's Voter Purge Sparks Disenfranchisement Debate Ahead of Elections
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is currently conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the state's legislative assembly elections. This process has sparked debate about voter disenfranchisement and the use of Aadhaar cards for voter verification.
In 2015, nearly 10 percent of voters were removed from the rolls in Telangana's assembly elections, raising concerns about voter disenfranchisement. The ECI, established on 25 January 1950, is now grappling with similar issues in Bihar.
Supporters of the SIR argue that migrants who relocate should be registered in their current constituency. However, critics point out that the Representation of the People Act (RP Act) clarifies that individuals 'temporarily absent' do not lose their status as 'ordinarily resident'. The SIR process in Bihar has led to the deletion of 6.5 million voters from the rolls.
The Supreme Court is currently considering whether Aadhaar cards can serve as foundational records for voter verification. In 2018, the court ruled that Aadhaar cards are not mandatory for voting or obtaining ration cards, upholding privacy concerns. Despite this, the 'purification' of electoral rolls linked to Aadhaar has led to wrongful disenfranchisement in some cases.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a 'demographic mission' to remove 'infiltrators' from voter rolls. As the ECI continues its SIR process in Bihar, the balance between preventing fraud and ensuring democratic rights remains a contentious issue. The final decision on the use of Aadhaar cards for voter verification is awaited from the Supreme Court.
