: EC Reaffirms Citizen-Only Voting Rights Amid Political Concerns in Bihar EC begins voter roll revision Bihar

New Delhi

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday announced the commencement of a special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, emphasizing that only Indian citizens are eligible to vote under the Constitution.

In a statement, the EC reaffirmed its commitment to Article 326, which states that only Indian citizens aged 18 and above and ordinarily residing in a constituency are eligible to be included in the voters list. The announcement comes amid criticism from opposition parties, who claim the exercise may lead to the selective exclusion of voters using government machinery.

The revision process, which has begun in Bihar, aims to verify the citizenship status of voters and eliminate illegal foreign migrants from the rolls. Similar revisions will follow in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal—states slated for assembly elections in 2026.

The EC said the initiative has witnessed “full participation” from all political parties in Bihar. Currently, nearly 78,000 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are involved in the process, with over 20,000 more being appointed for new polling stations. Additionally, more than one lakh volunteers will assist vulnerable voters, including the elderly, sick, persons with disabilities, and the economically disadvantaged.

Political parties have already appointed 1,54,977 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to coordinate with BLOs. The EC noted that printing and door-to-door distribution of new enumeration forms have begun across Bihar’s 243 Assembly constituencies. Of the 7.89 crore registered voters, 4.96 crore need only verify their details and submit the updated form to remain on the rolls.