D-Voter

Published on 09 Oct 2025

• The plight of D-voters or Doubtful voters, a concept unique to Assam, has been in news.

• Assam, which shares a 263 km border with Bangladesh, has witnessed decades of migration leading to nationalist insurgency.

• In 1985, as per the Assam accord with protesting groups, the Indian government declared that anyone entering Assam without valid documents after 24 March 1971 would be considered a foreigner. 

• In 1997, the Election Commission marked people as "D" (Doubtful) voters after its officers found their citizenship questionable.

• Cases with "reasonable doubt" were referred to Foreigners Tribunals, where individuals had to prove citizenship with documents. 

• The state still has around 97,000 people as D-voters. With some even in detention camps.

Keywords:

D-Voter Doubtful voters Voter Assam Assam accord Election Commission Democracy Election Participation