Electoral Registration Officers hold the key to inclusion in Bihar voter roll in the absence of requisite documents for SIR
Discussions against several documents that are thought to be valid for voter recording during the special intensive revision of the election rolls in Bihar, an important figure that emerged, the election registration officer (ERO). The optional powers granted to these officials of the state government may pollute the Sir process and warn the opposition leaders.
For a voters who do not have the necessary documents, Ero is the ERO, which has the authority to call or external to the voters list, according to the latest election commission guidance published in March 2023. Hindu. Ero’s decision is to rely on field verification, stand level officials (BLOS) reports and the references of village heads and families.
“The absence of documents, oath or approval from one of the parents or if there is a visible examination by the ‘sarapan’ or even a stand level officer (BLO). Election Registration Officer (ERO) can do local investigations to create evidence of residence in the absence of documentary evidence,” he says.
Therefore, in a case that a voter does not have any of the 11 documents listed for the secret process, ERO may receive a call based on such inputs.
Administrative officers
EROs are appointed in accordance with the 13B section of the 1950 People’s Law representation. Generally, public service or income officers, such as other equivalent status appointed as eros for sub -department officers or their judicial officials.
In Bihar, EROs organize a rank of Bihar administrative service and senior collector and above.
A few Bihar Eros told Hindu that they have only collected and uploaded the numbering forms with attached documents; Only after the draft roll is loaded, they plan to cope with cases where there is no documents on August 1. Now he said that most of the documents added to the forms sent were certificates separated from the school.
Alternative documents
Eros admitted that voters who do not have any of the 11 documents listed by the Election Commission at the Sir order would face difficulties in their cases.
Nitesh Kumar, the ERO of the Chapra Assembly seat, said that Blos has directed many people to apply for residence or permanent residence certificates given by the collections or local income officials.
However, he acknowledged that the residence certificates did not provide evidence of the age or place of birth of the applicant as required by Sir. “We rely on the Panchayat heads and Blos, who has to confirm the age and place of the person’s birth age and his place, Mr Mr. Kumar said.
Optional forces
Anish Kumar, ERO of the Phulparas Constitution, said a certificate given by parents or village mukhiya (Director) shall be accepted if there are no other evidence of the place of residence and the date of birth. If they do not exist, they can make a physical verification of ERO and decide whether the person continues to vote, ie over 18 years of age.
An ERO that does not want to take a name can find out if the person is “sufficiently mature”, although physical verification cannot be used to determine the exact age of an applicant.
State impact
The opposition parties approaching the Supreme Court and approaching Bihar Bandh to protest against Sir on Wednesday warned that an Ero, a state government, could be influenced by the ruling party in the state.
“In fact, you allow the necessary legal process to be decided by the tendency of an ERO. It is also possible to be influenced by the ruling party of the state government official. In addition, if Ero has the authority to include a person if he is satisfied, he may exclude a person if he is satisfied with a person.” Hindu.
According to a ECI statement on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, a total number 4.53.89.881 numbers have been collected in the last 15 days and 7.9 Crore in Bihar constituted 57.48% of existing voters.
Published – 09 July 2025 22:15 IST
