Electoral roll a dynamic list which needs review, only eligible citizens can be on it

Amid protests by opposition parties against Special Intensive Revision (SIR) that began in Bihar last week, the Election Commission on Monday said the revision is needed as the electoral roll keeps changing due to a variety of reasons and the Constitution mandates it to ensure that only eligible citizens are part of the voters' list.

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Several opposition parties have claimed that the intensive revision carries the risk of willful exclusion of voters using the state machinery.

In a statement, the Election Commission said the revision of electoral rolls is must as it is a dynamic list which keeps changing due to deaths, shifting of people due to migration and addition of new voters who have turned 18.

"Further, Article 326 of the Constitution specifies the eligibility to become an elector. Only Indian citizens, above 18 years and ordinary residents in that constituency, are eligible to be registered as an elector," it said.

The Election Commission said it has uploaded the 2003 electoral roll of Bihar comprising details of 4.96 crore electors, on its website. Bihar is scheduled to go for assembly polls later this year.

The poll panel said the 2003 electoral roll can be used by those in the 2003 list as documentary evidence while submitting their enumeration form.