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The state of Bihar, preparing for upcoming elections, is currently undergoing a Special Intensive Revision of its electoral rolls. The Election Commission (EC) has undertaken a massive effort to ensure that all eligible voters are accurately registered and can participate in the democratic process. This initiative involves distributing enumeration forms to potential voters, collecting the filled-out forms, and uploading the data to the central system. However, initial data from the first ten days of the thirty-day campaign reveals a significant discrepancy between the distribution of forms and their subsequent return and upload, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the voter verification drive. Despite reaching a substantial portion of the enrolled voters with enumeration forms, the rate at which these forms are being completed, returned, and digitally processed is considerably lower than anticipated. This situation warrants a closer examination of the factors contributing to this gap and the potential implications for the integrity and inclusiveness of the electoral process in Bihar.
According to figures released by the office of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), enumeration forms have been distributed to approximately 94% of the enrolled voters, representing a commendable outreach effort by the Election Commission. Specifically, forms were handed out to 73,889,333 of the 78,969,844 registered voters in the state. This extensive distribution indicates a proactive approach to reaching potential voters and facilitating their participation in the electoral roll revision process. However, the data also reveals a stark contrast when it comes to the number of forms that have been filled out and returned. Of the vast number of forms distributed, only a little over 14% have been collected within the first ten days of the campaign. This translates to a significant gap between the initial outreach and the actual completion and submission of the forms by the voters. Furthermore, there is a notable discrepancy between the number of forms collected and the number of forms uploaded to the system. While approximately 2.39 million forms have been uploaded, this represents only about 21.3% of the 11.2 million forms that are expected to be processed. This lag in data upload raises concerns about the efficiency of the process and the potential for delays in finalizing the electoral rolls.
The data also provides a breakdown of form submissions by district, highlighting variations in the effectiveness of the verification drive across different regions of Bihar. Vaishali district stands out as a leader in terms of Booth-Level Officer (BLO) submissions, with 176,000 forms collected. Patna and East Champaran follow closely behind, with 161,000 and 143,000 forms submitted, respectively. Nalanda and Samastipur round out the top five districts, with 132,000 and 103,000 forms submitted. These districts appear to be demonstrating relatively strong performance in terms of collecting and processing enumeration forms. However, on the other end of the spectrum, some districts are lagging significantly behind. Lakhisarai is the worst-performing district in terms of BLO submissions, with only 4,132 forms collected. Buxar, Kaimur, Munger, and Sheohar also face challenges, with submission numbers considerably lower than the leading districts. The disparities in performance across districts suggest that local factors, such as variations in administrative capacity, community engagement, or awareness levels, may be playing a role in the success or failure of the verification drive.
The Election Commission has deployed a substantial workforce to facilitate the voter verification process. According to the EC, 77,895 BLOs are conducting door-to-door drives to assist voters in filling out the enumeration forms. In some instances, BLOs are even taking photographs to enable immediate uploads, streamlining the process. To further bolster the effort, over 20,000 additional BLOs have been enlisted to ensure the timely completion of the drive. These BLOs are supported by a network of approximately 150,000 booth-level agents and 400,000 volunteers, including government servants, NCC cadets, and NSS members. This extensive support system is designed to assist elderly voters, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, ensuring that they are able to participate in the verification process. Despite the significant investment in manpower and resources, the low return and upload rates suggest that additional measures may be needed to address the underlying challenges hindering the verification drive.
In addition to BLO-assisted submissions, the Election Commission also allows voters to directly upload their forms through online channels. Patna leads the list in terms of voter-initiated uploads, with 8,348 forms submitted online. Gopalganj, Nalanda, Madhubani, and Muzaffarpur also see a relatively high number of online submissions. However, the overall contribution of online submissions is still relatively small compared to the BLO-assisted submissions. Furthermore, some districts struggle with online submissions, with Sheohar, Madhepura, Kaimur, Lakhisarai, and Sheikhpura reporting the lowest numbers of voter-initiated uploads. This suggests that access to technology, digital literacy, or awareness of online submission options may be factors limiting participation in some areas. The variations in online submission rates highlight the need for targeted outreach and education efforts to promote digital participation in the electoral process.
Analyzing the collective submissions (BLO and citizen-initiated), Vaishali district emerges as the leader, with over 178,000 forms submitted. Patna, East Champaran, Nalanda, and Samastipur also perform well in terms of overall submissions. On the other hand, Lakhisarai, Buxar, Kaimur, Munger, and Sheohar lag significantly behind in terms of total forms submitted. These districts face significant challenges in reaching and engaging voters in the verification process. Examining the collection percentage, which measures the proportion of forms collected relative to the number of voters, Vaishali ranks at the top with 25.83%. Supaul, Nawada, Kaimur, and Arwal also demonstrate relatively high collection percentages. However, Saharsa, Katihar, Aurangabad, Lakhisarai, and Madhubani report the lowest collection percentages, indicating that a significant portion of voters in these districts are not participating in the verification drive. These low collection percentages raise concerns about the potential for voter disenfranchisement and the accuracy of the electoral rolls in these areas.
Bihar CEO Vinod Singh Gunjiyaal has emphasized the Election Commission's commitment to collaborating with all stakeholders to raise voter awareness and ensure that no eligible voter is left out. The Election Commission is actively engaging with various stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organizations, and community leaders, to promote the importance of voter registration and verification. These collaborative efforts aim to address the barriers hindering voter participation and ensure that all eligible citizens are able to exercise their right to vote. A significant administrative infrastructure is dedicated to overseeing the voter verification drive. A total of 239 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), 863 Assistant EROs, 38 District Election Officers (DEOs), and the state CEO are involved in the drive. This multi-tiered structure aims to ensure that the verification process is conducted efficiently and effectively at all levels.
The relatively low rate of form return and upload despite the extensive outreach efforts by the Election Commission raises critical questions about the challenges hindering the voter verification process in Bihar. Several factors could be contributing to this situation. First, voter apathy or lack of awareness about the importance of the verification drive may be playing a role. Many voters may not fully understand the need to verify their information or may be unaware of the potential consequences of not participating. Second, logistical challenges, such as difficulties in accessing enumeration forms, completing them accurately, or submitting them through the designated channels, could be hindering voter participation. Third, socio-economic factors, such as poverty, illiteracy, or lack of access to technology, could be disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations and limiting their ability to participate in the verification process. Finally, political factors, such as distrust in the electoral system or concerns about the security of personal information, could be discouraging some voters from participating.
To address the challenges facing the voter verification drive in Bihar, several recommendations can be considered. First, enhanced voter education and awareness campaigns are crucial to inform voters about the importance of the verification process and address any misconceptions or concerns. These campaigns should be tailored to different audiences and delivered through multiple channels, including traditional media, social media, and community outreach programs. Second, simplifying the form submission process and providing additional assistance to voters, especially those facing logistical or socio-economic barriers, can improve participation rates. This could involve setting up mobile registration camps in remote areas, providing translation services for voters who do not speak Hindi, or offering door-to-door assistance to elderly or disabled voters. Third, strengthening the capacity of BLOs and other election officials to effectively conduct the verification drive is essential. This could involve providing additional training, resources, or incentives to encourage BLOs to actively engage with voters and address their concerns. Finally, building trust in the electoral system and ensuring the transparency and security of the verification process can encourage greater voter participation. This could involve providing regular updates on the progress of the drive, establishing mechanisms for addressing voter grievances, and ensuring that personal information is protected from misuse.
In conclusion, the voter verification drive in Bihar faces significant challenges despite the extensive outreach efforts by the Election Commission. The low rate of form return and upload raises concerns about the potential for voter disenfranchisement and the accuracy of the electoral rolls. To address these challenges, enhanced voter education, simplified submission processes, strengthened BLO capacity, and increased trust in the electoral system are needed. By implementing these recommendations, the Election Commission can improve the effectiveness of the voter verification drive and ensure that all eligible voters in Bihar are able to exercise their right to vote. The integrity and inclusiveness of the electoral process are essential for maintaining public trust in democracy, and concerted efforts are needed to address the challenges hindering voter participation in Bihar.
Source: Bihar voter verification: In 10 days, 94% of forms handed out, only 14% filled and returned