Those not in '03 poll roll may use parents' names

The Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Monday that people whose names are not in the 2003 electoral roll may use the extract of their parents' names as proof of birth and address during the special intensive revision in Bihar, but didn't mention the presence of illegal immigrants as one of the reasons behind the controversial exercise.

- Abhishek Angad

NEW DELHI:

In a statement, the Commission underlined that the person has to submit only their self-attested document as part of the enumeration form, and appeared to justify its decision to undertake the revision, which the Opposition has alleged is a back door for the National Register of Citizens.

"Only the relevant extract/details of the 2003 ER would be sufficient. Such electors would have to submit the documents, only for themselves, along with the filled-up enumeration form," ECI said.

"This exercise is required as the electoral roll is always a dynamic list which keeps changing due to deaths, shifting of people due to various reasons such as migration due to occupation/education/marriage, addition of new voters who have turned 18 etc," the statement added.

Under the SIR exercise, the first in the state since 2003, voters have to give documents to prove their date and place of birth along with the forms being distributed in all districts — if their name doesn't figure in the 2003 rolls. There are a total of 11 documents an elector can provide as attachment with the self-declaration form to establish the date of birth and/or place of birth.