11-07-2025
Bihar booth officials accept voter forms without documents, using discretion
In Bihar's ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are now accepting and submitting voter enumeration forms without any supporting documents, solely based on their discretion. A ground investigation by India Today in Hajipur and Muzaffarpur has revealed that document submission has become flexible, and in some cases, development comes even as the Supreme Court, while refusing to stay the revision exercise, raised serious concerns over inconsistencies in the process, especially with regard to document requirements like IS THE SIR?The Special Intensive Revision is a door-to-door voter verification drive ordered by the Election Commission in Bihar, ahead of the upcoming state elections. BLOs are conducting surveys to clean the electoral rolls by removing deceased voters, identifying duplicates, and verifying new or missing entries. The process uses the 2003 electoral rolls and the most recent database as the baseline.
BLOs are expected to verify the personal details of residents, upload information using a mobile app, and collect documents to support each entry. However, as revealed by India Today's field reporting, this process now largely hinges on the discretion of individual OEVR DOCUMENTSA BLO from Hajipur told India Today, 'We were initially told not to take the form without documents. But now the directive is taking the form first, collect the document later if needed.'Another BLO in Muzaffarpur demonstrated the mobile app interface, showing that under the 'SIR' tab, they can scan and upload the name, date of birth, and photo of a resident, and submit the form without uploading any document. The app is OTP-verified through the BLO's credentials.
'Since we're locals and know most residents, we have the authority to verify whether someone is born here. Later, if there's an objection or the ERO seeks submissions, we'll ask for documents,' the BLO Hajipur, a BLO Sahayak said, 'Until 2–3 days ago, Aadhaar numbers were not being accepted. We were unable to submit the form without the documents. But now, if a person is not in the 2003 roll and is yet to furnish the documents, we are still submitting his form with Aadhaar number, Name, Date of Birth, and Signature.'A BLO supervisor overseeing 10 booths clarified, 'This exercise is primarily meant to remove dead or duplicate voters. The detailed document check will happen after August 25 depending on further instructions.'Visual Proof and InconsistenciesadvertisementIndia Today recorded BLOs submitting forms using the mobile app without uploading documents. Some voters submitted Aadhaar numbers, even though the form lists it as optional. BLOs admitted that discretion is being exercised differently across locations. Some accept Aadhaar, others do not.
SUPREME COURT'S STANDHearing petitions seeking a stay on the process, the Supreme Court refused to halt the SIR but issued important observations. It emphasised that the revision must not result in voter exclusion, especially so close to court questioned the Election Commission's lack of consistency regarding acceptable documents, asking why Aadhaar, EPIC, or ration cards — widely held documents — are not being accepted in many cases. It also warned the EC not to overstep its mandate by venturing into citizenship verification, a domain under the Union Home legal questions will be examined in future hearings:Does the Election Commission have the authority to carry out SIR in this form?Is the procedure consistent with electoral laws?Is the timing of the exercise, just before elections, appropriate and fair?advertisementThe court has directed the EC to submit a counter-affidavit by July 21. The next hearing is scheduled for July REALITIES AND VOTER FEARSIn Muzaffarpur, a female BLO reported making four visits to some households where residents were hesitant to cooperate. 'They fear this is some form of process to keep them out. They are scared to submit any document,' she other residents have been cooperating. BLOs in Hajipur were seen conducting surveys actively, despite harsh weather conditions. 'There's a lot of confusion, but the effort is to not leave anyone behind,' said a BLO who has been on duty for ten days. 'We're telling people: submit the form now. You can provide documents later if required.'BOTTOM LINEWhile the Special Intensive Revision is aimed at cleaning up Bihar's voter rolls, it is currently exposing glaring inconsistencies in how India's largest democratic database is managed. With no uniform rule on Aadhaar, wide discretion being exercised by BLOs, and document collection being postponed or skipped, the entire process now rests on the judgment — and training — of individual field officers.- EndsMust Watch
IN THIS STORY#Bihar Assembly Elections
