Over 35 Lakh Names Set To Be Dropped From Bihar Voter List In Major EC Revision Drive

The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls has stirred political controversy, with the Election Commission (EC) indicating that around 35.5 lakh names are expected to be dropped from the state's voter list. The EC says the revision is part of a routine effort to update and clean the rolls, reflecting genuine changes like migration, death, and duplicate entries.

As of now, 6.6 crore voters-88.18% of Bihar's electorate-have submitted their updated enumeration forms. The deadline for submissions is July 25, after which the draft electoral roll will be released.

According to the latest figures shared by EC officials:

• 12.5 lakh voters (1.59%) were found to be deceased but still listed.
• 17.5 lakh names (2.2%) belong to people who have permanently left Bihar.
• 5.5 lakh names (0.73%) represent duplicate entries where voters registered more than once.

These discrepancies add up to roughly 35.5 lakh voters, which is over 4.5% of the state's total electorate-an unprecedented purge ahead of the crucial 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.

The EC also disclosed that foreign nationals from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar were identified during field verification visits. These individuals, erroneously registered as voters, will be removed following additional checks.

Defending the move, EC officials stated that the SIR aims to enhance electoral integrity by ensuring the rolls are current and accurate. However, the process has come under fire from opposition leaders.

RJD's Tejashwi Yadav expressed alarm, pointing out that removing even 1% of voters per constituency equates to around 3,200 names in each assembly segment. With the removal now projected to exceed 5%, opposition concerns are mounting over the possible impact on electoral outcomes.

The matter has reached the Supreme Court, where petitions challenging the SIR process are currently being heard. In an earlier session, the court advised the EC to rely on documents like Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and voter ID cards to ensure fair and accurate verification. The next hearing is set for July 28.

With the draft voter roll due in less than two weeks, the revision has become a flashpoint in Bihar's political discourse. As names continue to be scrutinized and removed, the outcome of this revision could shape the state's electoral landscape in the months ahead.