NEW DELHI: A day before Supreme Court takes up a batch of petitions challenging the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, Election Commision took to X to quote from Article 326 of the Constitution, which unequivocally mandates the poll panel to register only Indian citizens above 18 years of age, unless disqualified, as voters.
With enumeration forms of nearly 57.5% of Bihar's 7.9 crore voters collected in the initial 15 days of SIR, EC officials told TOI the names of all electors who figured in Bihar rolls on June 24, 2025 and who turn in their filled-up enumeration forms before July 25, 2025, shall be included in the draft electoral roll to be published on Aug 1, 2025.
"However, if the electors included in such draft rolls do not meet the enrolment requirements under Article 326, the electoral registration officer (ERO) can remove them after due inquiry," said a senior EC functionary.
As per Article 326: "Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of states to be on the basis of adult suffrage; that is to say, every person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than 18 years of age on such date as may be fixed in that behalf by or under any law made by the appropriate legislature, and is not other otherwise disqualified under the Constitution or any other law... on grounds of non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime or corrupt or illegal practice, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter at any such situation".
"Pure electoral rolls are inevitable for strengthening democracy," chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said, while hailing the nearly 57.5% submission of enumeration forms with 16 days of SIR still remaining. Sources said the booth level agents (BLAs) appointed by the very political parties that have moved SC against SIR, are actively participating in the exercise on the ground. For instance, RJD has appointed 47,504 BLAs who have submitted the largest number of signed forms so far. BJP, meanwhile, has a total 52,689 BLAs, and JDU, 34,669 BLAs in the field. Congress doubled its BLAs from 8,586 on June 23 to 16,500 on July 2.
EC has also deployed 4 lakh volunteers to facilitate senior citizens, persons with disabilities, sick and weaker sections in filling up and submitting their enumeration forms.
"EC was, is and will always be with the electors of India," the CEC told TOI.
By 6pm on Wednesday, over 4.5 crore enumeration forms were in, with 83 lakh landing in the last 24 hours alone.
With enumeration forms of nearly 57.5% of Bihar's 7.9 crore voters collected in the initial 15 days of SIR, EC officials told TOI the names of all electors who figured in Bihar rolls on June 24, 2025 and who turn in their filled-up enumeration forms before July 25, 2025, shall be included in the draft electoral roll to be published on Aug 1, 2025.
"However, if the electors included in such draft rolls do not meet the enrolment requirements under Article 326, the electoral registration officer (ERO) can remove them after due inquiry," said a senior EC functionary.
As per Article 326: "Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of states to be on the basis of adult suffrage; that is to say, every person who is a citizen of India and who is not less than 18 years of age on such date as may be fixed in that behalf by or under any law made by the appropriate legislature, and is not other otherwise disqualified under the Constitution or any other law... on grounds of non-residence, unsoundness of mind, crime or corrupt or illegal practice, shall be entitled to be registered as a voter at any such situation".
"Pure electoral rolls are inevitable for strengthening democracy," chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said, while hailing the nearly 57.5% submission of enumeration forms with 16 days of SIR still remaining. Sources said the booth level agents (BLAs) appointed by the very political parties that have moved SC against SIR, are actively participating in the exercise on the ground. For instance, RJD has appointed 47,504 BLAs who have submitted the largest number of signed forms so far. BJP, meanwhile, has a total 52,689 BLAs, and JDU, 34,669 BLAs in the field. Congress doubled its BLAs from 8,586 on June 23 to 16,500 on July 2.
EC has also deployed 4 lakh volunteers to facilitate senior citizens, persons with disabilities, sick and weaker sections in filling up and submitting their enumeration forms.
"EC was, is and will always be with the electors of India," the CEC told TOI.
By 6pm on Wednesday, over 4.5 crore enumeration forms were in, with 83 lakh landing in the last 24 hours alone.
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