Special Intensive Revision of Voters’ List and Proof of Citizenship for Bihar Elections: A Critical Analysis

##Special Intensive Revision of Voters’ List and Proof of Citizenship for Bihar Elections: A Critical Analysis

###Introduction

As the Bihar elections are fast approaching, the Election Commission of India has announced a special intensive revision of the voters’ list and emphasized the need for proof of citizenship. This move has raised some concerns and has been met with significant criticism. In this article, we will analyze the implications of this decision and its potential impact on the upcoming elections.

###Background

The Election Commission of India has the responsibility of conducting free and fair elections in the country. As a part of this responsibility, it regularly conducts revisions of the voters’ list to ensure its accuracy. The last revision of the voters’ list for Bihar was conducted in January 2020, and since then, there have been new additions to the list due to the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. This has prompted the Commission to announce a special intensive revision of the voters’ list for Bihar before the assembly elections in October 2020.

###Implications of the Special Intensive Revision

The special intensive revision of the voters’ list in Bihar has been met with significant criticism, with many pointing out that it is a discriminatory move against certain sections of society. The requirement of proof of citizenship has been viewed as a way to target minorities, specifically the Muslim population. It has also raised concerns about the exclusion of eligible voters, especially those belonging to marginalized communities who may have difficulty in obtaining relevant documents to prove their citizenship.

###Legal Standpoint

The issue of proof of citizenship for the purpose of voting has been a contentious one in India. While the Constitution of India provides for universal suffrage and does not impose any restrictions on who can vote, the Citizenship Act, 1955, states that only citizens of India can be enrolled in the voters’ list. This discrepancy has been used by certain political parties to push for stricter citizenship requirements, leading to a divide in opinions on the matter.

In the case of Assam Public Works v. Union of India, the Supreme Court of India directed the State of Assam to update the NRC to identify Indian citizens residing in the state. The NRC requires an individual to provide documentary proof of their citizenship, which has led to the exclusion of a significant number of individuals, who are now in the process of appeals to prove their citizenship. This has raised concerns about the implementation of the NRC in other states and its impact on the voters’ list.

###Concerns Regarding Proof of Citizenship

The recent decision of the Election Commission of India to conduct a special intensive revision of the voters’ list for Bihar and emphasize the need for proof of citizenship has raised several concerns. One of the main concerns is the exclusion of eligible voters who may not have the required documents to prove their citizenship. This could lead to the disenfranchisement of a significant number of individuals and affect the fairness of the elections.

Moreover, the emphasis on proof of citizenship has been viewed as a way to target specific communities, primarily the Muslim population. This fear is not unfounded, considering the events that unfolded during the NRC process in Assam. There have been reports of discrimination and harassment towards certain communities, which could be repeated in Bihar during the intensive revision of the voters’ list. This could have long-lasting implications for the relationships between communities and erode trust in the electoral process.

###Way Forward

The decision of the Election Commission of India to conduct a special intensive revision of the voters’ list for Bihar and emphasize the need for proof of citizenship has raised valid concerns. The upcoming elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner, without any discrimination and the exclusion of eligible voters. To ensure this, the Commission should take measures to reach out to marginalized communities to assist them in obtaining necessary documents and provide alternative means of identification for those who are unable to provide proof of citizenship.

Additionally, the Commission should also expedite the implementation of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in all polling booths to increase transparency and prevent any tampering with the voters’ list.

###Conclusion

The upcoming Bihar elections will be closely watched, especially in light of the special intensive revision of the voters’ list and the emphasis on proof of citizenship. The concerns raised regarding this decision should be addressed to ensure that the elections are conducted in a fair and transparent manner. The Election Commission of India has a crucial role to play in upholding the principles of democracy, and it must ensure that all eligible voters are able to exercise their right to vote without any restrictions or discrimination.