Latest news with #ElectoralRoll
Economic Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Election Commission publishes list of deleted electors from first SIR draft list after SC order
Synopsis Bihar's CEO, Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, has released details of electors removed from draft electoral rolls following a Supreme Court directive. The list, available on the Bihar CEO website and at District Election Officer offices, includes those excluded from the August 1st draft roll due to reasons like death, permanent relocation, absence, or repeated entry. Electors can search by EPIC number. Agencies Representative image. Bihar's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, on Sunday released the details of all electors removed from the draft electoral rolls in the first phase of the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state. The publication follows the Supreme Court's directive to provide the list of deletions along with reasons for to an official statement from the CEO, the list includes electors who were part of the 2025 electoral roll before the draft publication but were excluded in the draft roll published on August 1. The reasons for deletion include 'Deceased', 'Permanently Shifted', 'Absent', or 'Repeated Entry.' The complete list has been made available on the Bihar CEO website and at all District Election Officer offices. The statement further informed that voters can search their names using EPIC numbers, while booth-wise lists can be downloaded. Each entry provides the elector's name, EPIC number, father's name, and reason for deletion."In light of the interim order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on 14.08.2025…, it is hereby notified that the list of such electors whose names were included in the Electoral Roll of the year 2025 (before the draft publication) but are not included in the draft roll published on 01.08.2025, along with reasons (Deceased/Permanently Shifted/Absent/Repeated Entry), has been published on the websites of the Chief Electoral Officer, Bihar, and all District Election Officers of the State of Bihar," read the statement.
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
After Supreme Court direction, EC publishes list of names deleted from Bihar voter list along with reason for deletion
Bihar's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Sunday published details of 65 lakh names deleted from the draft electoral rolls in the first phase of the special intensive revision (SIR). This comes after the Supreme Court, while hearing petitions against the SIR, had directed the Election Commission to publish the details of those whose names were deleted from the draft rolls and the reasons for the deletion. Bihar CEO Vinod Singh Gunjiyal said in a statement, 'In light of the interim order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on 14.08.2025…, it is hereby notified that the list of such electors whose names were included in the Electoral Roll of the year 2025 (before the draft publication) but are not included in the draft roll published on 01.08.2025, along with reasons (Deceased/Permanently Shifted/Absent/Repeated Entry), has been published on the websites of the Chief Electoral Officer, Bihar, and all District Election Officers of the State of Bihar.' Names can be searched on the Bihar CEO's website using electors' photo identity card (EPIC) numbers. Booth-wise lists can also be downloaded. The list has details such as name, EPIC number, father's name and reason for deletion. The Opposition welcomed the move. RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari said, 'The decision came on the day INDIA bloc leaders Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and others have embarked on a yatra to travel through 22 Bihar districts to make voters aware of their voting rights. We can now analyse data and take up cases of voters whose names are wrongly deleted.' Opposition parties and other activists have raised concerns over potential wrongful deletions during the SIR process. They have claimed that several people declared dead during the process, and have had their names deleted, are in fact alive. Out of 7.89 crore voters in Bihar, 7.24 crore were enrolled in the first draft. Out of the 65 lakh names deleted from the list, 36 lakh were shown to have permanently moved elsewhere, and 22 lakh were said to be dead.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Yogendra Yadav, Rahul Shastri write on SIR: In Bihar, the edge of disenfranchisement
Here is a simple yet critical question for the ongoing SIR exercise: What proportion of Bihar's adult residents possess at least one of the 11 documents that the Election Commission of India (ECI) asks of them? This is a vital question as this would decide who can become a voter, first in Bihar and then in the rest of the country. Finally, we have an official, if bizarre, response from the ECI, filed in the Supreme Court as a counter affidavit (ECI-CA). Believe it or not, the ECI submits that the total number of eligibility documents is approximately three times the 7.9 crore potential voters of Bihar. What, pray, is the basis of this extraordinary claim? Fortunately, the ECI provides a statistical table (ECI-CA: pages 35-39) on each of these documents. While its conclusions are dubious, it does provide some official data otherwise not easily available in the public domain. Here we fact-check the claims made by the EC and revise the initial estimate offered by one of the authors. (Rahul Shastri, The Hindu Data Point, August 1, 2025) The accompanying table analyses ECI-CA claims for each of the documents. Column 2 reports figures claimed by the ECI. Since it has not presented the figures as a proportion of the population, we have done so in brackets against each figure in per cent of the total potential voters. Column 3 presents the actual position based on publicly available statistics, including the ones used by ECI-CA. Figures in Column 3 are presented as the percentage of the eligible electorate of 18-40 years, since this is the segment of the potential electorate whose names may not figure in the Electoral Roll (ER) of 2003 and hence who may be required to submit one of these 11 documents. The first category of the six documents does not need much comment as these are either irrelevant or negligible, and in any case, they are not contested. The NRC does not apply to Bihar. Since the requirement for any I-card or document issued by the government, LIC or PSU is that it must have been issued prior to 1987, the ECI admits that it is virtually non-existent. Similarly, since the population of Scheduled Tribes in Bihar is merely 1.3 per cent and there were only 191 applications under the Forest Rights Act, this is negligible. The ECI data is a slight overestimate for government employees' I-cards, as they include pensioners who are not relevant to the 18-40 age group. As for passports, the ECI data may be a small overestimate, as it includes invalid passports of those who have passed away. The figures quoted by the ECI for matriculation certificates are for irrelevant reference years (1980 to 2025) and need to be restricted to 2001-2023. Thus, our estimate of 2.06 crore is much less than the 2.91 crore claimed by the ECI. However, since the proportion of matriculation is higher among the relevant age group (18-40 years), our estimate of 43.3 per cent is higher than 36.8 per cent for the entire adult population used by the ECI or that of 14 per cent for the entire population used in some other estimates. This may go up a few points if CBSE and ICSE matriculates are added, but that may be balanced by discounting a significant number of permanent migrants in this category. Let's now turn to the remaining five documents where the ECI-CA makes astronomical claims with scant basis. The claims for permanent residence certificates are in the same breath, titanic, self-contradictory and deluding. In the first sentence, the ECI-CA states, 'Permanent residence certificate is not issued in Bihar'. Therefore, the relevant number should be zero. Yet in the next sentence, it claims — without citing any source — that 13.9 crore residence certificates have been issued in Bihar from 2011-25, a number which exceeds Bihar's population. The claim is untenable for another reason: Residence certificates issued in Bihar have a validity of one year, and hence every year, lakhs of people reapply for them. On the caste certificate, similarly, the ECI makes indefensible claims on the basis of total certificates issued during 2011-25 and not the number of unique persons to whom they have been issued. A person can apply simultaneously for OBC certificate for the state as well as the central government. The latter is valid just for a year. Besides, as caste certificates are mainly used by those aspiring for higher studies or government jobs, there is no reason to believe that the proportion of 18-40 year olds with caste certificates will be half of those with matriculation. The India Household Development Survey II had estimated in 2011-12 that only 16 per cent households had someone with a caste certificate. The ECI's claim on family registers makes a mountain out of a molehill. There is a valid but small number of 15.8 lakh individuals with Vanshavali certificates issued by the Panchayati Raj department (5.8 lakh in 18-40 age group). To this, the ECI adds 2 crore names contained in the Vikas Register 2.0 of the Bihar Mahadalit Vikas Mission, an internal administrative register to which no individual except government officials have access. The ECI uses a grossly misleading method of counting all the birth certificates issued between 2001-24, whereas in the same paragraph, it concedes that those born after 2007 are not eligible to be on the electoral rolls of 2025. The correct figure is less than 2 per cent. NFHS-3 reported that just 2.8 per cent of births between 2001-05 had corresponding birth certificates; this proportion is bound to be much smaller for our cohort group (1985-2007), the majority of which was born before 2001. In the house allotment certificate, the ECI adds up 1.18 crore beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojanas (Gramin and Urban) and the Indira Aawas Yojana. But these beneficiaries receive a sanction letter and not a house allotment certificate. They do not qualify for the 'land/house allocation documents' required under SIR. What then is the realistic overall number of persons who may have at least one of the 11 documents? We must remember that the figures given in the third column are not additive but overlapping; there is a negligible proportion of those who are government employees or have passports or have birth certificates but are not amongst the 43.3 per cent who are matriculates. Of those in the table who may not be matriculates are only the landless allotted land by the government (1.2 per cent) and those included in the family registers (1.2 per cent). Hence, the proportion of individuals in the 18-40 age group with eligibility documents is estimated to be around 45.7 per cent (43.3 per cent + 1.2 per cent + 1.2 per cent) plus some exceptions like a small proportion of those who possess caste certificates but are not matriculates. Let us round it off, on the upper end, to 50 per cent. The conclusion is stark: If the ECI strictly adheres to its arbitrary decision of asking for one of the 11 documents specified in its ('indicative but not exhaustive') list, at least 50 per cent of those whose names do not figure in the Electoral Rolls of 2003 may face deletion from the voters' list. As per the latest estimate (based on unofficial data from two districts), the ECI has been able to locate less than one-third of the electors on the 2003 rolls. Thus, the remaining two-thirds, 4.8 crore, would be asked for documents. Unless the Supreme Court intervenes and the ECI is made to modify or relax this requirement, 2.4 crore of the 7.24 crore electors on the current Draft Electoral Rolls face a loss of voting rights. This would be the largest disenfranchisement ever recorded in the history of any electoral democracy. Shastri and Yadav work with the national team of Bharat Jodo Abhiyaan. Yadav has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the SIR
Time of India
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Primary site for E-Roll download for all states working without any issues: ECI
Primary site for E-Roll download for all states working without any issues: ECI NEW DELHI: Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday clarified that its primary site for E-Roll download for all states has been working without any issues. "The primary site/link for E-Roll download for all states is The above site has been working without any issues since it was launched and continues to be operational currently also. The links from CEO websites (UP, Bihar, Maharashtra, Haryana and Rajasthan) are also working fine as they are mapped to the primary site of ECI i.e the above link, E-Roll data for all states is available," the poll body said in an official statement. The clarification came amid rumours regarding the non-functioning of the ECI Website leading to unwarranted confusion. "During the course of the day certain rumours and baseless allegations were being made regarding the non-functioning of the ECI Website leading to unwarranted confusion," it added. Earlier today, the Election Commission of India on Friday dismissed the claims circulating on social media platforms that the polling body had removed the e-voter rolls of many states from its website overnight, terming it as "fake news". In a social media post on X, the ECI said, "This is fake news. Anyone can download the Electoral Roll for any of 36 States/UTs through this link: This comes after several social media users claimed that ECI has removed the E-Voter Rolls of many states from its website overnight, including Bihar, Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. These came in response to a press conference held by Rahul Gandhi on August 7, where he claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were "choreographed" by the EC to benefit the BJP , which he said appeared "immune to anti-incumbency". Citing his party's internal analysis, Gandhi said the Congress expected to win 16 seats in Karnataka but ended up with only nine. He said the Congress investigated seven unexpected losses, zeroing in on Mahadevapura, where he alleged vote theft involving 100,250 votes. Presenting Congress's research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi alleged "vote chori" (vote theft) of 100,250 votes. "Our internal polling told us we would win 16 seats in Karnataka; we won nine. We then focused on seven unexpected losses. We focused on Mahadevapur... All data is 2024 data from the Election Commission; the total votes polled in the Lok Sabha were 6.26 lakhs. The BJP won with 658,915, securing a margin of 32,707. But then we look at Mahadevapura, where Congress polls 115,586 and BJP polls 229,632. Congress wins all Vidhan Sabhas but this one," the Congress leader said. "We found 100,250 votes stolen. Stolen in five different ways. Duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses, and bulk voters in a single address, in a building with 50-60 people living. But when we go there, there is no record of those people living there. "One family living in that house," he said.
Time of India
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
ECI dismisses claims of removing e-voter rolls from its website, calls it 'fake news'
The Election Commission of India on Friday dismissed the claims circulating on social media platforms that the polling body has removed the e-voter rolls of many states from its website overnight, terming it as " fake news ." In a social media post on X, the ECI said, "This is a fake news. Anyone can download the Electoral Roll for any of 36 States/UTs through this link: Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program This comes after several social media users claimed that ECI has removed E-Voter Rolls of many states from its website overnight including Bihar, Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Undo These came in response to a press conference held by Rahul Gandhi on August 7, where he claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were "choreographed" by the EC to benefit the BJP, which he said appeared "immune to anti-incumbency." Citing internal analysis, Gandhi said the Congress expected to win 16 seats in Karnataka but ended up with only nine. He said the Congress investigated seven unexpected losses, zeroing in on Mahadevapura, where he alleged vote theft involving 1,00,250 votes. Live Events Presenting Congress's research on voting in the Mahadevapura Assembly in Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi alleged "vote chori" (vote theft) of 1,00,250 votes. "Our internal polling told us we would win 16 seats in Karnataka; we won nine. We then focused on seven unexpected losses. We focused on data is 2024 data from the Election Commission; the total votes polled in the Lok Sabha were 6.26 lakhs. The BJP won with 6,58,915, securing a margin of 32,707. But then we look at Mahadevapura, where Congress polls 1,15,586 and BJP polls 2,29,632. Congress wins all Vidhan Sabhas but this one," the Congress leader said. "We found 1,00,250 votes stolen. Stolen in five different ways. Duplicate voters, fake and invalid addresses, and bulk voters in a single address, on a building with 50-60 people living. But when we go there, no record of those people living there. One family living in that house," he said.
