Voter Disenfranchisement in a Mobile India: The Challenge of 'Ordinary Residence'
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian Polity and Governance (Elections, Election Commission of India - ECI, Electoral Rolls, Representation of the People Act, 1950, Citizenship vs. Residency).
Mains:
GS Paper 1: Population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues; Effects of globalization on Indian society (Migration).
GS Paper 2: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act; Powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies (ECI); Government policies and interventions.
Key Highlights from the News
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar has led to allegations of disenfranchisement of vulnerable groups, including migrant workers.
The root cause of this problem is that the Representation of the People Act, 1950, was formulated at a time when people did not migrate much.
The concept of "ordinary residence," the main criterion for enrolling in the voter list, does not align with the reality of over 450 million internal migrants in India today.
Bihar has the highest internal migration rate in India. This year alone, more than 1.2 million names were removed from Bihar's voter list under the pretext of being "not a resident."
The article clarifies the difference between citizenship and residency. The criterion for enrolling in the voter list is residency, not citizenship (although citizenship is a prerequisite).
The article argues that India can solve this problem by adopting models such as absentee ballots in the US and mobile polling stations in Australia.
The article suggests that the Election Commission should strongly urge the government to change the law, and political parties should educate the public.
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