The draft electoral roll will be published on August 1. From then until September 1, the public can file objections or request corrections related to additions, deletions, or errors in the draft list.
More than 52 lakh voters in Bihar were found missing from their registered addresses during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, the Election Commission said on Tuesday. Additionally, around 18 lakh voters have been confirmed dead.
Election officials said that about 26 lakh voters have shifted to other constituencies, and another seven lakh were found registered in more than one location.
Poll authorities have compiled detailed lists of over 21.36 lakh voters whose enumeration forms were not submitted, as well as nearly 52.3 lakh individuals who are either deceased, have moved permanently, or are enrolled at multiple places.
The draft electoral roll will be published on August 1. From then until September 1, the public can file objections or request corrections related to additions, deletions, or errors in the draft list.
Twelve political parties have been provided with lists of voters who have moved, died, or were not found at their addresses. Parties have been asked to reach out to these individuals and assist them in approaching election officials for inclusion in the draft rolls, if eligible.
The final electoral roll will be released on September 30, following a full claims and objections process to ensure only eligible voters are included.
Meanwhile, the ECI has claimed all major political parties were “involved” in Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and deployed over 1.5 lakh booth level agents to reach out to eligible voters but opposing the exercise in the Supreme Court.
In an affidavit filed in a plea challenging the June 24 order directing pan-India SIR of electoral rolls starting from Bihar, the ECI claimed having plenary powers to take such measures as to protect and maintain the purity of elections, including preparation of electoral rolls.
It is with this objective that the ECI has directed the conduct of pan-India SIR, beginning with Bihar, the ECI argued.
The poll panel said some of the petitioners before the apex court were MPs and MLAs from Bihar’s recognised political parties who were assisting in the SIR exercise by providing BLAs.
The Commission also said it had previously conducted SIRs more frequently and the last such exercise was undertaken in Bihar in 2002-2003, and the period of enumeration was from July 15, 2002 to August 14, 2002.
The ECI debunked the allegation that the exercise was being conducted “hastily” and said the enumeration period was between June 25, 2025 and July 26, 2025.
“Over the course of the last twenty-two years significant changes in electoral roll have occurred in the state of Bihar on a large scale. Additionally, rapid urbanisation and frequent migration of population from one place to another due to education, livelihood and other reasons have become a regular trend,” the affidavit said.
Instances of repeat entries in the electoral rolls, the poll panel said, were noticed as some electors shift from one state to another without getting their names deleted from the electoral roll of their initial place of residence.
