Election Commission Finds Foreign Nationals on Bihar's Voter Lists
The Election Commission of India (EC) has discovered a large number of individuals from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar on voter lists during a special house-to-house verification drive in Bihar. The discovery was made as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of state elections. The EC has asserted that these individuals will be investigated and will not be included in the final electoral roll, raising significant concerns about electoral integrity, illegal immigration, and national security.
Unpacked:
Foreign nationals may have been added to Bihar’s voter lists due to lax documentation checks, migration, and the use of false or incomplete identification. Rapid urbanization, frequent migration, and lack of timely reporting of deaths or address changes have also contributed to inaccuracies in the electoral rolls, necessitating the current intensive revision process.
The Election Commission has deployed over 77,000 Booth Level Officers for house-to-house verification across Bihar. They are conducting detailed checks using documents such as Aadhaar, ration cards, and Election Commission-issued IDs. Suspected ineligible voters, including foreign nationals, will be investigated and removed from the rolls before the final publication on September 30, 2025.
Allowing foreign nationals to vote undermines the legitimacy of elections, as only Indian citizens are legally entitled to participate. Their presence raises concerns about potential manipulation, illegal immigration, and compromises the accuracy of the electoral process, impacting both national security and democratic trust.
Political parties are encouraged to participate actively in the revision process by monitoring and raising objections to suspicious entries. The public can also submit corrections or challenge ineligible entries online or through designated officials, ensuring transparency and community oversight in maintaining accurate voter rolls.