Bihar’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll has stirred significant political debate, with the Election Commission confirming that more than 35.5 lakh voter names are likely to be deleted from the state’s list.
The large-scale overhaul aims to clean up the electoral database ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.
According to the Election Commission (EC), as of now, 6.6 crore voters - representing 88.18% of Bihar's electorate - have submitted enumeration forms. The submission window remains open until July 25, after which a draft electoral roll will be released.
Preliminary figures show that 1.59% of electors (roughly 12.5 lakh) have passed away but remain listed.
Another 2.2% (around 17.5 lakh) have permanently relocated from the state, making them ineligible to vote in Bihar.
Additionally, about 0.73% (5.5 lakh voters) have duplicate registrations.
Combined, these factors account for the potential removal of over 35 lakh names - more than 4.5% of the total voter base.
In a more surprising revelation, EC officials disclosed that foreign nationals from countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar were discovered on the rolls during on-ground verification drives. These entries will also be struck off following further checks.
The EC has clarified that the SIR is part of an effort to update the voter roll to reflect current realities, such as migration, death, and redundancy. “The objective is to uphold the integrity and accuracy of the voter list,” an official stated.
However, the process hasn’t escaped criticism.
Opposition leaders, especially from the RJD, have voiced concerns over the political implications of such large-scale deletions. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav earlier noted that even a 1% reduction per constituency could mean around 3,200 names per segment. With the current figure topping 5%, opposition parties fear a significant impact on electoral outcomes.
Adding to the intensity of the debate, the matter is being heard by the Supreme Court. In a previous hearing, the court advised the EC to use official documents such as Aadhaar, ration cards, and voter IDs to ensure proper verification. The next court session is set for July 28.