electoral disenfranchisement
Kolkata Sex Workers Fight for Voting Rights: Challenges and Solutions in Electoral Inclusion
Nov 16, 2025 05:25 pm CST
Sex workers in Kolkata's Sonagachi district face potential exclusion from voter rolls due to documentation challenges. The 12,000-member community, represented by the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, has petitioned Bengal's electoral authorities for special verification camps to ensure their democratic participation. Many lack traditional documentation having lost family connections, despite possessing other government IDs since 2002. This struggle highlights broader electoral inclusion challenges as Bengal's Special Intensive Revision process moves forward.
Iranian-Origin Voters in Bihar Face Citizenship Verification Challenges Despite Generations of Residence
Sep 29, 2025 10:32 pm CST
Iranian-descent families in Bihar's Kishanganj face citizenship verification notices under Special Intensive Revision despite residing in India for generations. Nearly 30 community members must prove their citizenship before Bihar Assembly elections, highlighting their struggle with voter roll exclusion despite previously providing documentation and considering themselves Indian citizens.