Poll body to go door-to-door nationwide to remove illegal migrants from voter list

India Today

4 hours ago

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will now conduct door-to-door verification of voter lists across the country, starting with Bihar. This intensive voter list survey aims to ensure the integrity of electoral rolls by identifying and removing the names of illegal migrants and ineligible voters.In Bihar, the first state to undergo this exercise, voters who were enroled in the 2003 voter list will not be required to submit any documents. This group includes around 5 crore individuals. However, those who enroled after 2003 will have to submit valid documents to prove their identity and eligibility. In some other states, the cut-off year will be the 2004 voter list.advertisementThis verification is part of a special intensive revision that the ECI is launching in six states: Bihar, Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, all of which are scheduled to hold Assembly elections either this year or in early 2026. While Bihar goes to the polls in October-November 2025, the remaining states are set for elections in March-April 2026.
The opposition parties have raised concerns about political bias in this move, while the Commission maintains that it is a constitutional responsibility to ensure fair and clean elections.The ECI has assured that all steps taken will strictly follow the legal framework laid down in Article 326 of the Constitution and Section 16 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. WhileThe Commission's move focusses on identifying illegal foreign migrants who have entered the voter list using fake documents. It comes amid ongoing actions in several states against Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants.advertisementBooth-level officers will visit households for physical verification of voters. Special emphasis will be placed on verifying those who have migrated into the state from elsewhere or are first-time applicants. All such individuals must submit a declaration form with documentary proof of birth.Applicants will need to prove that they were born in India before July 1, 1987. If they were born between July 1, 1987, and December 2, 2004, they must also provide documents establishing their parents' date and place of birth.This is the first intensive voter list revision in Bihar since 2003.The Commission highlighted that multiple factors such as rapid urbanisation, frequent migration, deaths not being reported, and increasing cases of fraudulent voter registrations have made it necessary to conduct this detailed verification to maintain the purity of electoral rolls.- EndsMust Watch