Bihar Voter List: EC Publishes Names of 65 Lakh Deleted Voters

National News: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday clarified that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is fully committed to transparency in the voter list revision process in Bihar. His statement came after the Supreme Court directed the Commission to make public the details of the names that were deleted during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.

Last week, the Supreme Court heard petitions that questioned the removal of around 65 lakh names from Bihar’s voter list. Following this, the court ordered the ECI to release the details. Acting on the directive, the Commission uploaded the list of deleted names on the websites of all district magistrates across the state.

Multi-level process of preparing voter lists

Addressing a press conference, the Chief Election Commissioner explained that the voter list preparation in India follows a well-defined, multi-level, and decentralized system. According to him, the responsibility lies with Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Booth Level Officers (BLOs). These officers, usually at the level of Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), are accountable for ensuring the accuracy of the rolls.

He further explained that once the draft voter list is prepared, both digital and physical copies are shared with all political parties. At the same time, it is also uploaded on the Election Commission’s official website so that the public can view it. “There is no secrecy in this process. Every step is open to scrutiny, and transparency is maintained throughout,” Kumar emphasized.

Time given for claims and objections

The Chief Election Commissioner said that in Bihar, the draft list was released on August 1. Citizens and political parties now have time until September 1 to file claims and objections. During this period, eligible citizens whose names may have been mistakenly left out can request inclusion, while ineligible names can be challenged and removed.

“This process ensures that errors are corrected before the final list is published. Every citizen has the opportunity to check and raise concerns, and no genuine voter will be left out,” he assured.

Concern over misinformation

Kumar also expressed concern over the spread of misinformation regarding the revision exercise. He noted that certain political groups are attempting to mislead people by questioning the legality of the SIR process. Responding to these allegations, he made it clear that the procedure is conducted strictly according to law and there is nothing irregular about it.

“The system of elections in India is robust and time-tested. Spreading doubts about such a transparent process is unfortunate. I urge people not to believe in rumors and instead rely on official sources for accurate information,” Kumar added.

Looking ahead

The voter list revision comes at a crucial time, with Bihar heading towards assembly elections. The Election Commission has assured that every eligible voter will get a chance to participate and that fairness will not be compromised. The publication of deleted names and the open window for claims and objections is expected to restore public confidence in the process.

With the Supreme Court’s oversight and the Election Commission’s assurances, the upcoming elections in Bihar are likely to be conducted with greater accountability and transparency.