EC's 2024 survey found Bihar rolls almost error-free
A 2024 Election Commission survey in Bihar reveals high accuracy in voter rolls but significant gaps in household registration. While most respondents' details are correctly enrolled, many eligible family members remain unenrolled due to lack of awareness and difficulties in obtaining necessary documents. The survey suggests simplifying procedures and improving support for document acquisition to boost voter registration.
New Delhi: While the Election Commission has launched a special intensive revision (SIR) to clean up Bihar's electoral rolls, its own 2024 KAP (knowledge, attitude and practices) survey on voter insights noted the perceived "near-perfect accuracy of voter listings" in Bihar reflecting the "robustness of the electoral roll system".Released in January 2025, the survey, in fact, pointed to "significant gaps in household-level voter registration" and advocated "simplifying procedures" for "obtaining documents for voter enrolment, especially in rural or underserved areas".Conducted on the Election Commission's instructions just before (baseline) and after every election (endline), the KAP survey is key to EC's voter outreach strategies and its landmark systematic voters' education and electoral participation (SVEEP) initiative.The last such KAP survey (endline) was conducted in Bihar just after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and covered all 243 assembly constituencies of the state. It selected four polling stations per AC -- two each from rural and urban areas -- reflecting a higher and lower voter turnout. 60 respondents per polling stations were part of the survey, as per the survey report prefaced by the Bihar Governor, besides the Chief Secretary and CEO of the state.ET takes a look at what it revealed:-
Roll correctness: Over 98.9% respondents' details were "correctly enrolled in the electoral roll". A very small percentage of 0.3% did not have their names accurately written, while 0.7% were uncertain about this information, as per the survey.Not enrolled: As many as 31.8% of the respondents said that a few of their family members were "eligible yet not enrolled in the voter list". 85.6% of the respondents mentioned lack of awareness as the main reason for non-enrolment. Additionally, 4% expressed a lack of interest and 6.6% cited a "lack of valid documents". Another 1.9% of the respondents mentioned the lengthy procedure as a deterrent. "An equal percentage of respondents mentioned that not permanently residing in the area discouraged them from enrolling eligible members at their current residence," as per the survey.EPIC coverage: Found significantly high at 99.2%. Again, "lack of awareness" was the major reason for respondents not possessing EPIC. Over 88% respondents cited complexities in getting their EPICs including long process (83.8%), uncooperative officials and inaccessibility of the concerned office.Roll awareness: As many as 86.8% of the respondents admitted to be aware of the fact not having EPIC does not itself confer them the right to vote unless their name(s) were found in the latest electoral roll. Over 89.9% respondents also acknowledged that having EPICs at multiple places was an offence.Skipping voting: When EC's survey examined why some people did not go to cast their vote in recent elections, 30.1% cited their "absence in constituency" while 26.15% cited "not having EPIC" as reasons.11.2% respondents cited "absence of name in the electoral roll" for not turning up to cast votes.Women in migrant households: 33.3% respondents acknowledged higher female electors enrolled than male electors in the household.
KAP 2024 SURVEY SUGGESTIONS The survey notes "the near-perfect accuracy of voter listings" reflecting the "robustness of the electoral roll system'" It noted that even small inaccuracies can lead to "disenfranchisement" and recommended introducing self-verification tools and periodic roll updates, possibly through mobile apps or SMS.The survey notes the "significant gap in household-level voter registration" and the general challenges seen in individual non-enrolment. It has suggested "simplifying procedures and providing better support for obtaining documents could alleviate some barriers".
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