Voter List Mess in Bihar: BLOs Cut Corners, Forms Filled Without Verification, Aadhaar Now Key Document

As the voter revision process intensifies across Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, serious discrepancies and lapses are emerging on the ground — particularly regarding form distribution, document verification, and the role of Booth Level Officers (BLOs).

Reality vs Claims: Big Gaps in Execution

While the Election Commission claims that its revision drive is on schedule, reports from districts like Motihari, Kishanganj, and Patna paint a very different picture. Instead of going door-to-door, many BLOs are either calling people to schools or public locations — or worse, filling out forms themselves without verifying essential documents. In some cases, only thumb impressions or mobile numbers are being collected, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the process.

BLOs Overburdened or Careless?

With around 5,000 employees assigned to verify 37 lakh voters in Motihari alone, the manpower crunch is evident. Each block has just one supervisor for every 10 BLOs. Officials like BDOs, SDOs, and DMs are supposed to oversee the work, but monitoring is proving insufficient.

Complicated Conditions Confuse Voters

The Election Commission’s document requirements are also under scrutiny. Different birth dates have different eligibility documents — including voter lists from 2003, marriage certificates, or even citizenship certificates for women from Nepal. In many cases, people have Aadhaar, ration cards, and old voter IDs but still fall short under the new rules.

Activists like Ranjit from Raxaul have questioned this process, especially for Nepalese women married in India, many of whom have been voting for years but now risk being removed from the rolls.

Patna: Forms Missing Even Near CM’s House

In Jagjivan Ram Colony, just 200 meters from the Chief Minister's residence, no BLO or form has been seen. A similar situation exists in Kaushal Nagar, close to the homes of leaders like Tejashwi Yadav and Ministers Ashok Choudhary and Madan Sahni. Residents there still await their counting forms.

Ineligible Voters, Aadhaar Flood & Cash-for-Forms

Adding to the chaos, a video from Gaya went viral where a BLO was seen collecting money online from voters for filling their forms — effectively making enrolment a paid process. An FIR has now been filed against BLO Gauri Shankar at Mufassil police station.

Meanwhile, Aadhaar has become the go-to document — not just for voter revision, but also for accessing government schemes. This has led to long queues at Aadhaar centers, especially in border areas, where concerns about Bangladeshi intruders and non-citizens being included in the rolls are growing.

In Kishanganj, a Bizarre Reality

Despite the EC’s order for door-to-door verification, BLOs are filling out forms at schools or centralized points. When asked about verifying citizenship, BLOs refused to comment, citing orders from senior officials.

Supreme Court’s Concerns Ignored

Even after the Supreme Court's advice on document flexibility, no revisions have been made to the process. Citizens continue to struggle, especially those with incomplete paperwork, despite being legitimate voters.