Missing Voter Rights: The Plight of Electorate in Bihar

In Bihar, many voters like Jhurana Das are facing a frightening situation. Jhurana moved to Bihar over forty years ago as a young bride, and now, she finds herself struggling to prove her rights as a voter. At nearly 70 years old, she’s dealing with the emotional toll of losing her husband last year. To top it off, she received shocking news that her name is missing from the electoral rolls.

The Harsh Reality of Voter Deletion

In August, a booth-level officer (BLO) revealed to Jhurana that she might be barred from voting in the upcoming elections. “But I voted in the last assembly elections!” she exclaimed during our conversation outside her hut in Belauri, a small area near Purnia city in northeastern Bihar. Her name was absent from the new draft electoral rolls released by the Election Commission of India, despite having participated in previous elections. Adding to her distress, her details didn’t even appear in the list of deleted voters published following a Supreme Court order.

What is worse is the requirement placed upon her by the BLO: to present her deceased parents’ identity documents, which are 100 kilometers away in West Bengal. This request seems absurd, particularly because guidelines for voters born before 1987 don’t mandate such proof. Despite this, Jhurana remains determined to reclaim her voting rights. “I will not give up; I am a citizen of India,” she declared, hoping her nephew could help her gather the necessary documents.

Systematic Issues in Voter Registration

The situation with Jhurana is not an isolated case. The Election Commission’s recent effort to clean up electoral rolls led to over 65 lakh voters being excluded from the list. Our findings indicate that several booths across the state saw remarkably high deletions, with some booths losing anywhere between 324 to 641 voters—numbers that seem staggering when considering the capped limit of 1,200 voters per booth. In certain instances, up to half of the voters were removed!

As outlined in the Election Commission’s own regulations, if more than 2% of voters at a booth are deleted, additional verification should kick in. In Purnia, the electoral registration officer acknowledged that such verification is supposed to be in place, yet many voters reported that BLOs didn’t even visit their homes, despite this being a key part of the verification process.

Inconsistent Standards Among Booth-Level Officers

During our investigation, we spoke to several BLOs who admitted to following varying methods when verifying voters. Some relied heavily on gossip or hearsay while others maintained some documentation. This inconsistency raises significant concerns about the integrity of the process. In the words of one officer, “Personal satisfaction is sufficient,” suggesting that the individual judgment of a BLO could determine a voter’s fate.

Even when BLOs attempted to reach out or verify claims, the methods varied widely. One BLO, overwhelmed by his responsibilities, delegated verification tasks to family members. This only muddies the waters of accountability, as many of these relatives had not undergone any training on proper verification procedures.

The Struggles of the Disenfranchised

Many deleted voters are now racing against time to reclaim their voting rights. Jhurana is just one of many who face the uphill battle of gathering documentation to prove their eligibility. The Election Commission’s regulations have come under fire for their favoritism toward those who can afford to navigate this bureaucratic maze.

Among our findings, we spoke with Jumaira Khatoon, a domestic worker in her sixties. She is trying to reinstate her son Lalan, who is labeled as “absent.” Lalan works as a migrant laborer in Mumbai and visits his family only a few times a year. Despite living in the same house for decades, Lalan was removed from the electoral list without any verification being conducted by the BLO.

The emotional and financial toll on families is overwhelming. As families attempt to gather documentation, they are steeped in a system that seems designed to disenfranchise them. The clock is ticking as the Election Commission has set deadlines for filing claims and objections, putting further pressure on those who have been unjustly removed.

Moving Forward: A Need for Change

With elections looming, the situation requires immediate attention from authorities. The bureaucratic maze surrounding voter registration needs to be simplified, making it easier for marginalized voices to be heard and counted. Ensuring equal access to the voting process must be a priority.

It’s time for voters like Jhurana Das and countless others to have their rightful place in the democratic process. Our system must be fair, honest, and clear—no citizen should have to fight tooth and nail to prove their right to vote. With support and persistent advocacy for transparency in electoral processes, we can work towards ensuring that every eligible citizen participates in shaping their future.

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Original Text – https://scroll.in/article/1086533/how-booth-level-officers-in-bihar-are-deleting-voters-arbitrarily?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=public