NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Sunday said Bihar's draft electoral roll may exclude 66 lakh names as they had either become electors in other states or UTs, were non-existent, did not submit enumeration forms within the July 25 deadline or were not willing to register as electors for some reason or other.
Of the 66 lakh electors, 22 lakh were found to be deceased, 36 lakh permanently shifted or untraceable, and seven lakh enrolled at multiple places. Over one lakh did not return their forms by the deadline.
"Exact status of these electors will be known after scrutiny of these forms...by Aug 1. However, genuine electors can still be added back in electoral rolls during the claims and objections period from Aug 1-Sept 1," EC said in a statement. It said the seven lakh electors found enrolled at multiple places will be retained in only one place.
EC underlined that submission of over 7.2 crore forms by electors in Bihar pointed to their "overwhelming participation" in the special intensive revision (SIR) of rolls. It said all aims of SIR - participation of all electors and political parties; no eligible electors - temporary migrants, urban electors, young electors - be left behind; assistance by election staff in enumeration phase; scrutiny of draft roll; and no deletion of draft electoral roll without a speaking order - have either been fulfilled or will be met.
On achieving the aims, EC said participation of electors and parties was realised through involvement of field representatives of the 12 major political parties, such as district presidents and 1.6 lakh booth level agents. No elector be left behind was achieved with SMSes sent to 5.7 crore registered mobile numbers, allowing BLAs to submit up to 50 forms daily, and visits to electors' addresses.
Outreach to temporary migrant electors was ensured with advertisements in 246 newspapers. This resulted in action by 29 lakh migrants - 16 lakh filled the form online and 13 lakh downloaded it.
Regular involvement of electors and political parties was ensured by sending 10.2 crore SMSes to electors acknowledging receipt of forms. Lists of electors not found at their addresses or whose forms weren't received were shared on July 20 with the parties. On scrutiny of draft roll, EC said digital and printed copies of draft roll of each booth will be shared with political, adding no name can be deleted without notice and speaking order of ERO/AERO, it said.
Of the 66 lakh electors, 22 lakh were found to be deceased, 36 lakh permanently shifted or untraceable, and seven lakh enrolled at multiple places. Over one lakh did not return their forms by the deadline.
"Exact status of these electors will be known after scrutiny of these forms...by Aug 1. However, genuine electors can still be added back in electoral rolls during the claims and objections period from Aug 1-Sept 1," EC said in a statement. It said the seven lakh electors found enrolled at multiple places will be retained in only one place.
EC underlined that submission of over 7.2 crore forms by electors in Bihar pointed to their "overwhelming participation" in the special intensive revision (SIR) of rolls. It said all aims of SIR - participation of all electors and political parties; no eligible electors - temporary migrants, urban electors, young electors - be left behind; assistance by election staff in enumeration phase; scrutiny of draft roll; and no deletion of draft electoral roll without a speaking order - have either been fulfilled or will be met.
On achieving the aims, EC said participation of electors and parties was realised through involvement of field representatives of the 12 major political parties, such as district presidents and 1.6 lakh booth level agents. No elector be left behind was achieved with SMSes sent to 5.7 crore registered mobile numbers, allowing BLAs to submit up to 50 forms daily, and visits to electors' addresses.
Outreach to temporary migrant electors was ensured with advertisements in 246 newspapers. This resulted in action by 29 lakh migrants - 16 lakh filled the form online and 13 lakh downloaded it.
Regular involvement of electors and political parties was ensured by sending 10.2 crore SMSes to electors acknowledging receipt of forms. Lists of electors not found at their addresses or whose forms weren't received were shared on July 20 with the parties. On scrutiny of draft roll, EC said digital and printed copies of draft roll of each booth will be shared with political, adding no name can be deleted without notice and speaking order of ERO/AERO, it said.
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