In a sweeping electoral overhaul, the Election Commission has removed over 35 lakh names from Bihar’s voter list following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Many of the deleted entries were marked as deceased, shifted, or duplicate voters, sparking controversy, political pushback, and legal scrutiny ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.
A Massive Cleanup Drive
The SIR was launched on June 24 to update Bihar’s voter database, which currently has around 7.89 crore registered voters. By July 15, officials had verified the status of 83.66% of these — approximately 6.60 crore voters.
Out of these, around 1.59% (about 12.5 lakh) were found to be dead, 2.20% (17.5 lakh) had permanently shifted to other places, and 0.73% (5.5 lakh) were registered in more than one location. In total, over 35.5 lakh names have been flagged and removed from the electoral rolls as invalid entries.
This is one of the most extensive voter list revisions ever conducted in Bihar and is being viewed as a possible model for similar exercises in other states.
Deadlines and Draft Roll Dates
The deadline for submission of Enumeration Forms (EFs) is July 25, after which no further additions or corrections will be accepted for the draft roll to be published on August 1. The final electoral roll is expected to be released by September 30.
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have already completed two rounds of door-to-door verification and will now conduct a final outreach to cover pending cases and assist those who may have been missed earlier.
Widespread Concerns Over Voter Rights
The large-scale deletions have led to strong protests by opposition parties, including the Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and other members of the INDIA bloc. They allege that the revision process is flawed and could lead to the disenfranchisement of nearly 2 crore voters, particularly migrant labourers, rural poor, and those lacking formal documentation.
Many citizens have claimed they are long-time voters with valid Aadhaar, ration cards, or voter IDs, yet are being struck off the rolls due to technical issues or document mismatches.
Legal Intervention and Supreme Court Remarks
In response to public outcry and multiple legal petitions, the Supreme Court allowed the Election Commission to continue the SIR process but also instructed the Commission to consider accepting commonly held identification documents like Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards during verification.
While this was seen as a partial relief, critics argue that the damage may already be done if names have been deleted prematurely or without sufficient due process.
Foreign Nationals Allegedly on the Rolls
Amid the exercise, Election Commission sources claimed that the review process uncovered names of foreign nationals — allegedly from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar — enrolled using forged identity documents. These revelations further intensified the political debate.
However, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav dismissed the claims as “political theatre,” questioning the timing of such disclosures and accusing the EC of functioning under pressure from the ruling party.
High Stakes Ahead of Assembly Polls
With Bihar set to go to the polls in October–November 2025, the timing of this exercise has added a sharp political edge to the controversy. Opposition leaders are calling the SIR a pre-planned attempt to influence the electoral outcome by altering the voter base. Meanwhile, the BJP and its allies have defended the cleanup as essential to ensuring free and fair elections.
This revision could significantly impact the political arithmetic in Bihar, especially in constituencies where even small shifts in voter turnout can influence results.
What to Expect Next
All eyes are now on the August 1 draft electoral roll. The next two weeks are crucial, as the final round of BLO verification wraps up and voters scramble to ensure their names are retained. The final list, due in late September, will set the stage for the assembly elections and likely continue to stir legal and political debate.
The Special Intensive Revision in Bihar has not just cleaned up electoral rolls — it has ignited a state-wide conversation on voter rights, documentation challenges, and electoral fairness.
Photo Credit: The Indian Express
