Those not on Assam citizen list can vote if they have valid papers, says poll panel chief

A little over 4 million people in Assam, out of the 32.9 million in the state who applied to be included in the NRC, have been left out of the draft of the contentious document released on Monday.

All eligible voters with bonafide documents to prove their citizenship will be included in the voter list even if their names are not in the draft national register of citizens (NRC), the election commission said.

People wait to check their names on the draft list at the National Register of Citizens centre at a village in Nagaon district, Assam. (Reuters file photo)

“Coincidentally our timelines are matching. We have informed the CEO in Assam that all individual cases should be dealt with and in case of a dispute; if the names are missing from NRC but are on the electoral list, then the electoral officer will take the final call based on the supporting evidence,” Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said on Tuesday.

He added that “Only those people who are not in the final NRC list and not found to be Indian citizens will not be able to vote.”

The EC’s final list will be ready by January 4, 2019, while the final NRC list has to be out by December 31, 2018.

A little over 4 million people in Assam, out of the 32.9 million in the state who applied to be included in the NRC, have been left out of the draft of the contentious document released on Monday.

On the names that have been left out of the draft NRC, Rawat said: “This is a draft. The 40 lakh people left out of the list will be informed about the reasons why their names were not included. Thereafter they can file their claims and objections and after decision on the claims, final list of NRC will be published.”

The CEC said even those whose names will not make it to the final electoral list will be given a notice and an opportunity to explain why they should be eligible to vote.