D-Voter
A D-Voter, or "Doubtful Voter", is a category used exclusively in the Indian state of Assam to label individuals whose citizenship status is questionable or under dispute during the revision of electoral rolls.
Background and Process
- Origin: The category was introduced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in 1997 during an intensive revision of Assam's electoral rolls. This followed the 1985 Assam Accord, which set a cutoff date of March 24, 1971, for detecting and deporting illegal immigrants.
- Identification: During house-to-house surveys, individuals who could not provide sufficient evidence of their Indian nationality were marked with a 'D' (for Doubtful/Disputed) in the electoral rolls. The category also initially included absentee voters.
- Legal Ambiguity: The term "doubtful voter" is not formally defined in the Citizenship Act, 1955, or the Citizenship Rules, 2003.
- Disenfranchisement: Individuals marked as D-Voters are barred from casting their votes or contesting elections in the country until their citizenship is verified and cleared by the appropriate authority.
Verification and Legal Recourse
The cases of D-Voters are referred to special Foreigners Tribunals set up under the Foreigner (Tribunal) Order of 1964.
- Proving Citizenship: The individual must appear before the Tribunal and provide documentary evidence (birth certificates, land records, legacy data) to prove they are genuine Indian citizens.
- Outcome: If a person is cleared by the Tribunal, their name is removed from the 'D' category and restored to the main electoral roll. If they are declared a foreigner/illegal immigrant, they are liable to be placed in a transit camp (formerly known as detention camps).
- NRC Link: D-voters were permitted to apply for inclusion in the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, but their inclusion was contingent on receiving clearance from a Foreigners Tribunal.
Key Developments (Late 2024 - Late 2025)
- Status Quo in Voter Lists: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has mandated that during the ongoing special summary revision of electoral rolls in Assam (which began in November 2025), the status of "Doubtful Voters" will not change. Their names will be carried forward with the 'D' marking, and they will continue to be unable to vote unless a Foreigners Tribunal or court issues a clear order confirming their citizenship.
- Government Withdrawal of Cases: In a significant move in April 2025, the Assam state cabinet decided to withdraw around 28,000 pending cases in various Foreigners Tribunals against members of the indigenous Koch-Rajbongshi community. This decision will effectively remove the D-voter tag for those individuals, restoring their citizenship and voting rights and bringing relief after years of legal battles.
- Current Numbers: As of late 2024/early 2025, the Assam Chief Minister reported there were approximately 96,987 D-voters in the state. These individuals will remain disenfranchised during the upcoming electoral cycle unless they benefit from the case withdrawal or secure individual tribunal orders.
- Supreme Court Position: A recent Supreme Court ruling in December 2025 reaffirmed that while the Election Commission can inquire into citizenship doubts, only designated Foreigners Tribunals or courts have the authority to declare individuals as foreigners or alter their citizenship status.
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