The Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are increasingly accepting voter registration forms without any supporting documentation as part of Bihar's ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, depending only on their own judgement. According to national media on-the-ground investigation in Hajipur and Muzaffarpur, document submission has become more flexible and, in many situations, optional.
This change coincides with the Supreme Court's concerns regarding procedural irregularities in the revision process, specifically with regard to the approval of documents like Aadhaar.However, the apex court has so far refused to stay the revision process.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)?
The SIR is a door-to-door voter verification initiative ordered by the Election Commission of India in Bihar ahead of upcoming elections. Its goal is to clean the electoral rolls by identifying deceased individuals, duplicate entries, and missing voters. BLOs are expected to verify residents' personal details, collect documentary proof, and upload the information using a dedicated mobile app. The exercise uses the 2003 voter roll and the most recent data as reference points.
Discretion over documentation
Contrary to official expectations, BLOs on the ground have been accepting and submitting forms even when no documents are provided. According to a BLO from Hajipur, the original directive was to not accept forms without documents. “But now, we’re told to take the form first and collect documents later if necessary,” the officer said.
In Muzaffarpur, another BLO demonstrated how the SIR tab on the mobile app allows uploading a resident’s name, date of birth, and photo — and submit the form without any attached document. The app functions through OTP verification linked to the BLO’s credentials. “Since we are locals and know most people in the area, we can personally verify if someone was born here,” the BLO added. “If an objection comes up or the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) requests documents, we’ll follow up.”
A BLO sahayak in Hajipur shared a recent change in the system, “Until a few days ago, we couldn’t submit forms without uploading Aadhaar or other documents. Now, even if a person isn’t listed in the 2003 rolls, we can go ahead and submit the form with basic details and an Aadhaar number.” A BLO supervisor overseeing 10 polling booths clarified that the current phase is primarily for removing deceased or duplicate voters. “Thorough document checks will be conducted after August 25, based on future instructions,” the official said.
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Visual evidence and variability
India Today’s team captured multiple instances of BLOs using the mobile app to submit voter forms without uploading any documentation. Some voters voluntarily submitted Aadhaar numbers, although the form lists Aadhaar as optional. BLOs acknowledged that discretion varied across locations — some officers accepted Aadhaar, others did not.
Supreme Court’s intervention
While hearing petitions seeking to halt the SIR, the Supreme Court refrained from issuing a stay. However, it expressed significant concern over procedural ambiguities and the potential for voter exclusion, especially so close to an election.
The bench questioned the Election Commission’s inconsistent stance on acceptable documents, asking why widely available IDs such as Aadhaar, EPIC, or ration cards were being rejected in some areas. The court also warned the EC not to exceed its constitutional mandate by engaging in citizenship verification — a task reserved for the Union Home Ministry.
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The court outlined three legal issues for further examination:
- Whether the EC has the authority to conduct the SIR in its current form.
- Whether the procedure complies with electoral law.
- Whether conducting the exercise so close to elections is legally and ethically sound.
- The Election Commission has been asked to file a counter-affidavit by July 21, and the next hearing is scheduled for July 28.
Ground-level challenges and voter concerns
On the ground, BLOs are facing significant challenges. In Muzaffarpur, a female BLO shared that she had to visit some homes four times, as residents were hesitant to engage. “They fear this is a process to remove them from the rolls. They’re afraid to share any documents,” she explained.
Despite the confusion, others have been more cooperative.In Hajipur, BLOs continued their work under difficult weather conditions.“Yes, there’s a lot of uncertainty, but our goal is not to leave anyone out,” said one BLO on duty for over 10 days.“We’re telling people: just fill the form now.You can submit documents later if required.”
The Special Intensive Revision, intended to clean Bihar’s voter rolls, is revealing major inconsistencies in how the country’s largest democratic database is maintained.With no uniform rules around Aadhaar, varying practices among BLOs, and postponed documentation, the process now hinges entirely on the discretion and judgment of individual field officers — raising serious questions about fairness, transparency, and electoral integrity.
Also Read: No halt on Bihar voter roll SIR, Supreme Court flags timing
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