Bihar's 'votebandi' electoral revision sparks fears of mass disenfranchisement and selective franchise.
Bihar's ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, termed 'votebandi', is a complete reconstruction requiring extensive document submission from 50 million voters. This process is compared to demonetisation and Assam's NRC, raising fears of mass disenfranchisement. The ECI demands documents like birth certificates and land records, rejecting common IDs like Aadhaar and voter cards. High out-migration from Bihar further complicates matters for migrants proving residency. Critics warn this could create a permanent category of "second-grade" citizens and fundamentally disrupt India's electoral democracy. The ECI's plan to replicate this template in other states like Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal raises national concerns.
Key Points
- Bihar's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a complete reconstruction of electoral rolls, termed 'votebandi', subjecting 50 million voters to a harsh eligibility test.
- The ECI demands specific documents like birth certificates and land records, while rejecting commonly available IDs such as Aadhaar and existing voter cards.
- The process disproportionately affects migrant workers and marginalized communities, who struggle to provide the required documents or prove 'ordinary residence'.
- Critics fear this revision will lead to mass disenfranchisement, creating a class of "second-grade" citizens, and could be replicated in other states.
Exam Facts
- The SIR in Bihar was launched on June 24, 2025, after a gap of over 20 years.
- An estimated 50 million voters of Bihar are subject to the eligibility test.
- The ECI demands 11 specific enabling documents as proof of electoral eligibility.
- The ECI plans to replicate this SIR template in states like Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
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