New Delhi/Patna: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to launch an intensive house-to-house verification of voter data as part of the revision of electoral rolls for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, PTI reported, citing sources.
The move comes amid mounting allegations from opposition parties and civil society groups over the manipulation of electoral rolls. Several parties, including the Congress, have accused the ECI of favouring the BJP by tampering with voter rolls and arbitrarily adding or removing names.
Sources in the Commission told PTI that despite the ECI following a detailed and transparent protocol—with regular oversight from political parties—allegations of voter roll tampering and data manipulation continue to surface.
🗳️ ECI Considers Large-Scale Voter Verification
To enhance public trust and correct any discrepancies, the Commission is considering a comprehensive house-to-house verification drive, which would be the first such large-scale effort since 2004.
Officials believe the exercise will help eliminate errors, prevent duplicate entries, and address omissions, ensuring a more accurate electoral roll ahead of the crucial elections.
“Despite strict protocols and oversight mechanisms, we continue to face criticism over electoral roll data. An intensive verification drive is being planned to address these concerns and reaffirm the credibility of the process,” an official told PTI.
Civil society organisations have consistently raised concerns about names being deleted without proper notice and about ghost voters being added—claims that have gained traction in politically charged environments.
The upcoming Bihar elections are likely to be fiercely contested, especially with recent tensions between opposition parties and the BJP-led NDA, making the transparency and accuracy of voter rolls a pivotal issue.