With the upcoming state assembly elections in Bihar, amidst the ongoing controversy regarding the voter list review, the Election Commission has offered significant relief by relaxing certain rules.
Now, voters can submit the form to the Booth Level Officer (BLO) without attaching a photo or documents. The commission has published an advertisement in major newspapers today regarding this.
The advertisement states, 'To maintain your name in the voter list, fill out the calculation form today. Even if you already possess a voter card, completing the form is essential.'
It further mentions, 'As soon as you receive the calculation form from the BLO, fill it out immediately and turn it in with the necessary documents and a photo. If essential documents and photos are unavailable, just submit the calculation form to the BLO.' The commission has provided a QR code for filling the form online.'
Source: aajtak
Furthermore, the Election Commission has made it clear that voters listed as of January 1, 2003, do not need to provide documents with the form. The 2003 voter list is available on the Election Commission's website. If a voter has the necessary documents, it will make processing the application easier for the Electoral Registration Officer. The commission has said that if necessary documents are not available, the Electoral Registration Officer may decide based on local verification or other documentary evidence.
The advertisement from the Election Commission also mentions important dates, stating that the period for filling out the calculation form is from June 25 to July 26. The draft publication of the voter list will be on August 1, 2025. The period for claims and objections is from August 1 to September 1, 2025, and the final voter list will be published on September 30, 2025.
Response from the Chief Election Commissioner
When Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was on a private visit to Firozabad, he responded to inquiries regarding the voter list in Bihar and the accusations made by the opposition against the Election Commission. He was asked about the repeated allegations from the opposition that no resolution or decision is being offered for their grievances?
In response, the Chief Election Commissioner said, 'The Election Commission maintains continuous communication, which is why over the past four months, meetings have been held in every assembly, district, and state, with about 5,000 meetings involving 28,000 people and political party leaders. Moreover, the Election Commission itself is meeting with all national and state parties. Meetings with five national parties have already occurred, and more than four state parties are also meeting with the Commission. If there are issues, parties often send delegates whom the Election Commission also meets. The Election Commission continues its dialogue with political parties.'
Remarks on the Voter List
Concerning questions about the voter list, he said, 'Many issues find their solutions within the Election Commission's orders. For example, the 2003 voter list for Bihar, which dates back 22 years, falls under the Constitution's Article 326 and will be considered eligible. This means that those already listed do not need to submit any documents, and the children of voters listed will not require parental documents either. As for the time frame, during the intensive scrutiny of Bihar's voter list in 2002, it spanned from July 15 to August 14; this time, it's also within 31 days from June 24 to July 25.'
The Election Commission clarified that those registered in the voter list as of January 1, 2003, do not need to provide documents with the form. The 2003 voter list is accessible on the Election Commission's website. If a voter has the necessary documents, the Electoral Registration Officer will have an easier time processing the application. If the required documents aren't available, a decision will be made based on local verification or other evidence. The Election Commission will provide volunteers for elderly, disabled, and other special voters.
The Election Commission's advertisement also highlights vital dates, mentioning that the period for filling the calculation form is from June 25 to July 26. The draft publication of the voter list occurs on August 1, 2025, with claims and objections from August 1 to September 1, 2025. The final publication of the voter list is on September 30, 2025.
