Bihar Electoral Roll Revision: The first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in poll-bound Bihar, which began on June 24, 2025, is nearing its conclusion. According to the Election Commission (EC), this crucial revision exercise aims to ensure a cleaner, more accurate electoral roll ahead of the upcoming state elections.
With the deadline for submission of enumeration forms set for July 25, the EC confirmed that 98.01% of Bihar’s electorate had already been covered by July 23. The commission is urging any remaining eligible voters to ensure their details are submitted before the deadline to avoid exclusion from the revised rolls.
56 lakh electors found to be incorrectly included
A major finding of the first phase was the identification of 56 lakh electors, or 7% of the 7.9 crore electorate, who have been found to be incorrectly included in the electoral list. These entries consist of individuals who are deceased, have permanently migrated, or are registered at multiple locations.
An EC official stated that such inaccuracies could lead to bogus voting and undermine the integrity of the election process if not corrected in time.
One lakh electors untraceable
In addition to those identified above, one lakh electors have been found to be “untraceable”. According to EC officials, these individuals may in fact be illegal immigrants or residents of neighbouring states, such as West Bengal, who managed to enrol in Bihar’s electoral roll, potentially through corrupt practices or lack of verification during past revisions. Such entries are being actively scrutinised and will not feature in the draft electoral roll set to be published on August 1, 2025.
The cleaned-up data from this first phase will form the basis of the draft electoral roll, which will help ensure a more transparent and legitimate voting process in the coming elections.
Tejashwi Yadav hints at possible boycott of Bihar Assembly polls
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, has suggested that the Opposition might consider boycotting the upcoming state assembly elections. The decision, he said, would depend on feedback from the public and alliance partners.
Speaking to a news agency on July 23, Yadav expressed deep concerns over the credibility of the electoral process, alleging that the Election Commission of India (ECI) was acting “at the behest of the BJP and the ruling NDA”. He questioned the point of participating in an election where “results appear to be pre-decided”.
Yadav, who represents the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), said the final call on a possible boycott would be made after consultations. Earlier that day, a heated exchange broke out in the Bihar Assembly between NDA and mahagathbandhan legislators over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, further intensifying the political tensions in the state.