Following the Supreme Court's order, the Election Commission has released the list of 6.5 million voters removed from the SIR Draft Voter List in Bihar. Voters can verify their names on the website, with the BLO, and at district offices.
Voter List: The Election Commission has made public the list of approximately 6.5 million voters who were removed from the Draft Voter List under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar. Following the Supreme Court's order, this list has been made available on the official website, allowing voters to verify their names.
Election Commission's Action Following Supreme Court Order
In its interim order dated August 14, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to publish the complete list of voters whose names were removed from the SIR Draft Voter List in Bihar. In compliance with this order, the Election Commission has now made public the list of all 6.5 million names that were removed from the Draft Voter List.
Reasons for Name Deletion
The Supreme Court instructed the Commission to clearly state the reasons for name deletion. The primary reasons for removing voters' names from the list are:
- Death of the voter.
- Permanent migration to another location.
- Duplicate registration of the same person.
These reasons are clearly stated in the list to avoid any confusion among voters.
Information Available at District and Booth Levels
The Supreme Court also directed the Commission to display the booth-wise list of removed voters at the office of each District Election Officer. Additionally, the District Election Officer is required to share this list on their official social media platforms.
Furthermore, the Commission has ensured that the list is displayed at every BLO (Booth Level Officer) office and Panchayat office. The aim is to ensure that every voter can easily obtain information at the village level.
Promotion Through Media and Public Relations
The Election Commission has been directed to issue advertisements in newspapers, radio, TV, and other media to disseminate the information widely. The Commission has stated that the entire process aims to ensure that no voter is deprived of their rights.
New Facility for Voters
The Election Commission has activated a new link on the official website of Bihar, allowing voters to easily check their name and status. This will enable them to confirm whether their name is present in the voter list or has been removed.
This digital initiative has been undertaken keeping in mind the convenience of voters at both rural and urban levels. The Commission has appealed to people to visit the website and check their names as soon as possible.
Election Commission's Response to Rahul Gandhi's Allegations
Meanwhile, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, termed the large-scale deletion of names in Bihar as "vote theft." The Election Commission has bly reacted to this allegation.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar stated that political parties have started directly accusing the Election Commission while targeting voters, which is not appropriate. The Commission has demanded that Rahul Gandhi submit an affidavit with evidence within 7 days or publicly apologize.
Election Commission's Emphasis on Transparency
The Election Commission states that its goal is to keep the entire process transparent and impartial. The decision to make the list public is a major step in this direction. The Commission has also clarified that those whose names have been mistakenly removed will have the full opportunity to file objections and have their names re-added.
