3 Things Bihar SIR ग्राउंड रिपोर्ट: दुविधा, संशय और अफ़रा-तफ़री
Aug 22, 2025
Santosh Singh, a journalist with The Indian Express, shares compelling insights from his ground reporting in Bihar. He discusses the electoral chaos caused by the drastic overhaul of the voter list, leaving many puzzled and anxious about their voting rights. The conversation dives into the challenges for voters, especially migrants, emphasizing the emotional toll of bureaucratic hurdles. Singh also highlights officer discretion in electoral processes and the broader implications of registration complexities on voter participation and local communities.
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Why The Voter List Was Reset
- Bihar's Election Commission annulled the old voter list and created a new one months before elections, causing widespread confusion.
- This sudden Special Intensive Revision (SIR) was justified by rapid urbanisation and migration, per the Commission's rationale.
Voters Keep Saying 'We Have A Voter Card'
- Santosh Singh recounts voters repeatedly saying "We have a voter card" while facing rejection during verification.
- He highlights confusion about which documents are accepted, with examples like class 10 certificates and EPIC cards.
Mass Additions And Deletions In Draft List
- The first SIR phase's draft enrolment added 7.2 million voters and deleted 650,000 names, showing large churn.
- Santosh's field reporting suggests deletions and additions vary widely across villages and depend on local processes.