ECI has sent notices to 3 lakh suspected voters in Bihar. They will have to submit proof of citizenship before the final voter list on September 30, otherwise their names will be removed from the voter list.
Bihar Voter List: The review of the voter list in Bihar under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is in its final stages. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has clarified that the final voter list will be released on September 30. Before that, voters whose documents have been found incomplete or suspicious are being sent notices. The Commission states that if these voters do not provide proof of their citizenship in time, their names will be removed from the final voter list.
Major Action Before Final Voter List Release
The Election Commission has paid special attention to the accuracy of the voter list this time. During the SIR process, the Commission identified approximately 3 lakh voters whose documents are suspicious. Many of these voters reside in border districts of Bihar, which are adjacent to the borders of Nepal and Bangladesh.
The highest number of suspicious voters have been found in the districts of Kishanganj, Purnea, West Champaran, East Champaran, Araria, Saharsa, Madhubani, and Supaul. Notices are being sent to all of them.
Reasons for These Voters Being Suspicious
According to the Commission, there are serious discrepancies in the documents of these voters. In many cases, voters' Aadhaar cards and other identity cards have been found to be suspicious. It is also believed that many of these individuals illegally entered India from Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Afghanistan and obtained forged documents to get their names added to the voter list. The Commission is now conducting a thorough investigation of all their documents.
65 Lakh Names Already Removed So Far
During the SIR process, 65 lakh names have been removed from the voter list in Bihar so far. These are individuals who are either deceased, have permanently relocated from Bihar, or whose names were registered in multiple locations.
The removal of all these names has been carried out on the orders of the Supreme Court. The court had directed the Commission to take strict action to remove fake or duplicate voters.
How Will Citizenship Be Verified?
Voters who have received notices will need to submit the necessary documents to verify their citizenship. These include Aadhaar cards, birth certificates, passports, or other government identity documents. If the documents are not submitted within the stipulated timeframe, their names will not be included in the final voter list.
Process of Issuing Notices
According to Commission sources, the process of sending notices to all suspicious voters has begun. This work is being carried out under the supervision of the District Election Officer and SDMs. Lists of suspicious voters' names have also been posted at the respective booths and block offices in each district for public verification.
Removal from Voter List Will Have a Major Impact
If a voter fails to submit documents, their name will be removed from the voter list. Such individuals will be unable to cast their vote in the upcoming assembly or Lok Sabha elections. The Election Commission has made it clear that it is the voter's responsibility to submit documents in a timely manner.
Aadhaar Linking Also Mandatory
Following the Supreme Court's order, Aadhaar has now been included as a mandatory document in Bihar. This means that Aadhaar linking is also necessary to maintain one's name on the voter list.
When Will the Final Voter List Be Released?
According to the Election Commission, the final voter list will be published on September 30. Before that, all voters must respond to the notices. If any name is removed, information about it will be made publicly available at the respective booth and district offices.
