Election Commission Gears Up for Nationwide Voter Roll Verification, Bihar Model to Be Shortened

According to sources, the Election Commission (EC) will soon announce the schedule for the nationwide voter list revision, starting with 10 states and Union Territories. The first phase includes West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry, all of which are set to begin the voter verification and roll-updating process soon.

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Streamlining the Verification Process

The EC has instructed all states and UTs to begin pre-matching current and previous electoral rolls to ensure a faster verification process. This step aims to prevent the long delays experienced during earlier revisions, particularly in Bihar, where the process lasted nearly four months — from June 24 to September 30.

Learning from Bihar Experience

Officials revealed that the Commission is now shortening the time frame for the voter list revision after analyzing challenges faced in Bihar. The Bihar SIR faced intense scrutiny and controversy, with nearly 66,000 names dropped due to reasons like death, duplication, or migration. However, opposition parties had alleged the deletions were politically motivated.

Supreme Court’s Role in the Process

The Supreme Court recently intervened, directing that Aadhaar be accepted as a valid identity proof during the voter verification process. The court emphasized “en masse inclusion” instead of “en masse exclusion”, overruling the poll body’s concerns about forgery risks. This move is expected to make the verification process more inclusive and transparent.

Political Reactions and Controversy

The decision to expand SIR nationwide comes amid strong criticism from opposition leaders. Congress’s Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Bihar voter roll exercise was aimed at mass disenfranchisement of the poor and minority voters, accusing the EC of bias toward the ruling party. However, the Commission has maintained that the revision is part of its regular effort to cleanse electoral rolls and ensure accuracy.

What’s Next for Voters

Once the SIR process begins, voters across the 10 states can expect door-to-door verification, correction drives, and inclusion of new voters. The EC’s goal is to ensure error-free electoral rolls before the next major elections, with a faster, more transparent, and technologically aided verification process.

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