EC’s Bihar voter roll drive questioned as 2003 overhaul was longer, more inclusive

As the Supreme Court resumes hearing on the Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls on August 22, sharp questions are surfacing over the Election Commission’s own defence of the exercise.

In its affidavits, the ECI has cited the 2002–03 intensive revision as precedent, arguing that the current three-month timeline is adequate and insisting that voter ID cards cannot be treated as proof of eligibility. Yet, records from that earlier overhaul — corroborated by former Commission officials and Chief Electoral Officers — tell a different story.

Back then, the intensive revision spanned eight months across seven states, more than double the time allotted now. Crucially, no proof of citizenship was required from existing electors, and the Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC) served as the backbone of verification. The contrast raises doubts over the ECI’s claims that the present Bihar exercise mirrors the inclusiveness and robustness of 2003.

Petitioners before the court argue that compressing the process into just 97 days — with final rolls due October 1, barely weeks before Bihar polls — risks disenfranchising voters, particularly those struggling to secure documents. They contend that the Commission is straying into questions of nationality beyond its constitutional mandate.

Three points stand out:

• Timeline gap: The 2002–03 revision stretched over 243 days with phased training, surveys, verification, claims and corrections. The current revision is squeezed into 97 days.
• Citizenship checks: In 2003, citizenship proof was not sought from existing electors. Enumerators verified residence and age, not nationality. Citizenship checks were limited to new applicants and special flagged zones.
• EPIC reliance: The voter ID card was the principal verification tool in 2003. Today, the ECI dismisses EPIC as inadequate, calling the ongoing revision a “de novo” exercise.

An email seeking the Commission’s response went unanswered.

With the Court set to weigh these discrepancies, the outcome could shape not just Bihar’s upcoming polls but also the framework for voter roll revisions across India.