Bihar's electoral roll has decreased by approximately 6% following a three-month Special Intensive Revision (SIR), according to the Election Commission of India's (ECI) final electoral list released on Tuesday, September 30, 2025. The final voter list contains 7.42 crore electors, a notable decrease from the 7.89 crore voters recorded on June 24, 2025, when the SIR was announced. This implies a net exclusion of 47 lakh voters from the electoral rolls.
The SIR exercise involved the deletion of 68.5 lakh names and the addition of 21.53 lakh new electors. The Election Commission stated that this revision aligns with the Constitution's Article 326 and the ECI's principle of ensuring that no eligible voter is omitted and no ineligible person is included in the electoral rolls.
Of the 68.5 lakh names removed, 65 lakh were deleted when the draft roll was published on August 1, 2025. An additional 3.66 lakh were removed during the claims and objections stage, a period during which citizens could contest deletions or seek corrections. Among the initial 65 lakh deletions, 22 lakh were marked as deceased, 36 lakh as permanently migrated or absent, and 7 lakh as already enrolled elsewhere. Further analysis of the 3.66 lakh subsequent deletions revealed that over 2 lakh were due to migration, around 60,000 due to death, and 80,000 due to duplication.
The Election Commission has not disclosed the exact number of "foreign illegal immigrants" removed during the SIR exercise. However, sources suggest that nearly 99% of the deletions were due to death, permanent migration, and duplication, implying a negligible number of foreigners were removed.
The SIR announcement in June was met with criticism from opposition parties, who alleged that the Election Commission was breaking precedent and attempting a citizenship check. The Election Commission has clarified that anyone aggrieved by the process can file a first appeal before the District Magistrate and a second appeal before the Chief Electoral Officer, as per the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
Despite the deletions, eligible citizens can still apply for inclusion in the electoral roll up to ten days before the last date for filing nominations for the election. Moreover, individuals dissatisfied with the Electoral Registration Officer's decision can appeal to the District Magistrate and then to the CEO of Bihar. In Patna alone, the final voter list showed an increase of 1.63 lakh voters across its 14 Assembly constituencies.
Political reactions to the final electoral rolls have been varied. Bihar's ruling parties have welcomed the updated list, with the BJP stating that it strengthens democracy and increases transparency. The Janata Dal (U) criticized the opposition for questioning the EC's credibility.
