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The process of collecting Forms 6, 7, and 8 will continue till the last date of nomination for the assembly polls, said an Election Commission official
However, such applications may not figure in the final rolls slated for publication on September 30. (Representational photo)
Those who missed the September 1 deadline to submit claims and objections for inclusion or correction in Bihar’s draft voter list can still apply until the last date of nomination filing for the upcoming elections—the schedule of which is yet to be announced. However, such applications may not figure in the final rolls slated for publication on September 30.
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Explaining this, a poll body official told News18 that the voter list update is a continuous process. But before any election, the list is frozen on the last date of nominations. That is also the cut-off time for new voter applications.
Section 23 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, provides that no addition, deletion, amendment, or transposition of any entry in the electoral rolls of a constituency can be made after the last date for nominations for an election in that constituency and before the completion of that election.
Names submitted after September 1 may not appear in the September 30 publication, but will still be added to the electoral rolls used for polling once the list is frozen on the last date of nominations
Under the special intensive revision (SIR) underway in Bihar, July 25 was the last date for form submission, while the draft electoral roll was published on August 1. The formal claims and objections window closed on September 1.
What was the Sept 1 deadline for?
Voters need to fill out Form 6 for new voter addition, Form 7 for deletion requests, and Form 8 for corrections. These forms are verified before changes are made in the list.
“The process of collecting Forms 6, 7, and 8 will continue till the last date of nomination. However, the deadline was important so that work on finalising the voter list could be started,” the official explained, requesting anonymity.
On being asked why there was a deadline when the process would continue anyway, the official explained that the cut-off helps them cover most of the population early.
“Once the final list is published, only a smaller fraction—a few thousand to a few lakh voters—remain for inclusion,” the official said.
This practice is followed before every election, not just during the SIR, the official pointed out. The roughly 30-day gap between the close of claims and objections and the release of the final list is used to scrutinise applications.
“The aim is to cover every eligible voter, and we will do that before the elections. Those submitting the claim and objection beyond September 2 will appear in the ultimate list that will be released after the roll is frozen post compilation of nomination, if not on the September 30 list,” the official added.
65 lakh names deleted
Bihar had 7.89 crore voters as of June 24, which dropped to 7.24 crore after 65 lakh names—of those dead, migrated, or enrolled at multiple places—were deleted.
The term of the Bihar assembly is ending in November, and elections are likely to be held before that.
For those who have yet to apply for name addition, update, or correction, the poll body urges them to submit the request soon and not wait for the last date, as scrutiny and corrections take time.
About the Author
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived…Read More
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived… Read More
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