Patna: The Election Commission has uncovered serious irregularities in Bihar’s electoral rolls, revealing the presence of a significant number of foreign nationals from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. The disclosure was made during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state’s voter list, a door-to-door verification campaign conducted by booth-level officers.
The revelation has raised concerns over the integrity of the electoral process in the state, as authorities work to ensure that only eligible Indian citizens are included in the rolls. The final voter list is scheduled to be published on September 30.
Those whose names are missing from the draft electoral roll, due to be released on August 1, can file claims with the Voter Registration Officer, District Election Officer or the Chief Electoral Officer. Submissions must be supported by valid documentation.
To verify citizenship, the Election Commission has outlined a list of acceptable documents, including:
- Educational certificates from recognised institutions
- Caste certificate
- National Register of Citizens (NRC) entry
- Passport
- Family register issued by a state or local authority
- Government-issued certificates prior to 1 July 1987 (from banks, post offices, LIC etc.)
- Forest rights certificate
- ID card of a regular employee or pensioner
- Permanent residence certificate
- Government land or housing allotment document
- Birth certificate from a competent authority
Officials say strict verification procedures are being enforced to prevent the enrolment of ineligible individuals and to safeguard the democratic process.
