The Election Commission of India (ECI) has completed the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls, revealing significant discrepancies in the voter list. The announcement was made on Friday, with officials stating that 99.8% of voters in Bihar have been covered under the SIR exercise. This extensive effort is aimed at cleaning up the voter lists ahead of the upcoming elections.
During this phase, the ECI identified approximately 7 lakh voters registered in more than one location and about 35 lakh electors who were either untraceable or had permanently migrated. Additionally, the names of approximately 22 lakh deceased electors were reported. These discrepancies mean that roughly 65 lakh names are likely to be removed from the draft electoral rolls.
The ECI has digitized over 7.23 crore forms received from voters, which will be included in the draft electoral roll. The names of these electors are scheduled for publication on August 1, 2025. The remaining forms and reports from Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are expected to be completed by the same date. However, forms for approximately 1.2 lakh electors are still awaited.
To ensure transparency, the ECI shared lists of deceased, migrated, and non-responsive voters with 12 political parties on July 20, 2025. This allows parties to verify the information and raise objections before the draft roll is finalized. The 12 parties include Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Janata Dal (United) – JDU, among others.
The large-scale revision involves over 77,000 BLOs, nearly 3,000 assistant officers, and more than 1.6 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) representing major parties. This collaborative effort aims to correct errors in the draft electoral roll, which will be published on August 1.
The SIR order allows electors and political parties to submit claims and objections regarding inclusions or removals from the electoral roll between August 1 and September 1. This provides an opportunity to rectify any remaining errors or omissions.
Despite the ECI's efforts, the SIR has faced political opposition, with concerns raised about potential disenfranchisement of eligible voters. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hold a hearing on the SIR, adding further scrutiny to the process. Concerns have also been raised regarding missing electors and the potential inclusion of foreign nationals on voter rolls. Moreover, the requirement of submitting documents, including proof of birth for oneself and parents, as per the 1987/2004 citizenship act, poses a challenge. While the ECI has insisted only on submitting the enumeration form by July 25, it has not waived the documentary evidence requirement.
