In a significant move, the Election Commission has simplified the voter registration process in Bihar. The decision means that approximately 49.6 million voters will not need to provide additional documents. The EC has made the 2003 electoral rolls available on its website, https://voters.eci.gov.in, providing readily accessible voter details.
Following guidelines issued on June 24, the electoral rolls will be accessible to all BLOs in hard copy and available for download online. This will enable voters to easily verify their information and use the 2003 list as evidence for the upcoming enumeration process.
This action supports the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign in Bihar. The EC estimates that around 60% of voters will benefit, requiring them to simply verify their details against the 2003 list and complete the enumeration form. This is expected to expedite the process for both voters and election officials.
Individuals whose names are not present in the 2003 rolls can still use the document to verify their parents’ names. This negates the need for parents to separately submit documentation, making the procedure less cumbersome. These voters will need to submit only their personal documents along with the enumeration form.
Regular revision of electoral rolls is mandated under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. This is due to the dynamic nature of the voter list, which requires constant updates to reflect changes like deaths, relocation, and new registrations. The Constitution of India, under Article 326, stipulates that citizens aged 18 and above, residing in the respective constituency, are eligible to vote.