Bihar Electoral Roll Update Progress

Introduction

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced significant progress in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, reporting that 98.2% of electors have already submitted their required documents. With eight days remaining until the closing of claims and objections on September 1, 2025, the revision exercise is moving forward on schedule, setting the stage for the publication of final electoral rolls on September 30, 2025.

This large-scale democratic exercise is crucial for ensuring that the 7.24 crore electors of Bihar are accurately represented in the electoral database, ahead of upcoming state and national elections.

Background of the SIR in Bihar

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar began on June 24, 2025, following the ECI’s directive to ensure transparency, inclusiveness, and accuracy in the voter rolls.

• Enumeration Phase: Conducted from June 24 to July 25, this phase focused on gathering basic voter information and data verification.

• Draft Rolls Publication: On August 1, 2025, the draft electoral rolls were released to the public.

• Claims & Objections Period: Running from August 1 to September 1, 2025, this stage allows citizens and political parties to raise objections, correct mistakes, and submit pending documents.

By the end of this process, the final rolls will ensure that no eligible voter is left out, while ineligible names are systematically removed.

Document Submission Rate: An Impressive Achievement

According to the ECI, the response rate from Bihar’s electorate has been remarkable:

• 98.2% electors have already submitted documents within just 60 days.

• On average, this equals 1.64% of the electorate submitting documents per day.

• With 1.8% electors still pending, officials are optimistic about achieving full coverage before the September 1 deadline.

This figure represents not only efficiency but also the growing awareness among citizens about the importance of their participation in the democratic process.

Role of BLOs and Volunteers

A major factor behind this achievement is the extensive ground-level work carried out by:

• 90,712 Booth Level Officers (BLOs)

• 2,976 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs)

• 243 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs)

• Thousands of volunteers spread across Bihar’s 38 districts

These field workers were tasked with visiting households, collecting documents, guiding electors through form submissions, and ensuring even remote communities were covered.

Just as in the enumeration phase, their contribution to document collection has been instrumental in speeding up the process.

Verification Process Running Parallel

The ECI emphasized that while documents are being collected, the verification process is happening simultaneously.

• The 243 EROs and 2,976 AEROs are verifying eligibility and cross-checking documents.

• This dual approach ensures that delays are minimized and fraudulent entries are detected early.

• By the time the submission window closes, a significant portion of the verification work will already be complete.

This concurrent processing is one of the reasons why the ECI remains confident about meeting its September deadlines.

Claims and Objections: Current Status

As per the Commission’s official statement, a total of 0.16% of claims and objections have been filed against the draft electoral rolls.

Breakdown of objections received:

• 10 claims were raised by Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from the 12 recognized political parties.

• 1,21,143 objections were filed by electors within their own constituencies.

• No claims were filed by individuals outside their constituencies.

This relatively small percentage of objections suggests that the enumeration and draft roll preparation were accurate and transparent, leaving little scope for dissatisfaction among electors.

New Voter Registrations: Youth Participation on the Rise

One of the highlights of the SIR process in Bihar has been the enrollment of new voters, particularly young citizens:

• 3,28,847 new electors have been added to the rolls.

• These individuals either turned 18 on July 1, 2025 or will attain the age of 18 by October 1, 2025.

• All new applicants have submitted their Form 6 along with the required declarations.

The inclusion of new voters marks a significant step in strengthening youth participation in democracy. Bihar, with its large young population, stands to benefit from this fresh wave of politically active citizens.

Timeline for Completion

The Election Commission has laid down a clear roadmap for the completion of the SIR process:

• September 1, 2025: Last date for claims, objections, and document submissions.

• September 25, 2025: All claims, objections, and eligibility verification to be completed by EROs and AEROs.

• September 30, 2025: Final electoral rolls to be published across all districts.

This timeline ensures that the state will have a clean, updated, and verified voter roll well ahead of any major electoral events.

Commendation of Efforts

The ECI acknowledged the teamwork and dedication of various stakeholders involved in the revision exercise:

• CEO of Bihar for overall supervision.

• District Election Officers (DEOs) from all 38 districts.

• 243 EROs and 2,976 AEROs for ground-level scrutiny.

• 90,712 BLOs for direct engagement with voters.

• 1.6 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties.

• Active involvement of district-level party presidents and field representatives.

Such large-scale collaboration between government machinery, political parties, and the public demonstrates the strength of India’s electoral system.

Why the SIR Matters

The Special Intensive Revision is not just a bureaucratic exercise—it has far-reaching implications:

1. Error-Free Electoral Rolls: Ensures no duplication, bogus entries, or deceased individuals remain in the voter list.

2. Inclusivity: Brings new voters, migrants, and marginalized communities into the democratic fold.

3. Transparency: Allows political parties and the public to monitor, raise objections, and demand corrections.

4. Election Readiness: Prepares Bihar for free, fair, and credible elections.

In a state as politically significant as Bihar, the accuracy of voter rolls can directly influence the legitimacy of electoral outcomes.

Political Parties’ Limited Objections

Interestingly, the data shows that only 10 objections were filed by BLAs of recognized political parties. Given Bihar’s vibrant political environment, the low number suggests broad acceptance of the process.

This development could be interpreted as a sign of confidence among political parties in the neutrality and thoroughness of the ECI’s efforts.

Opportunities for Electors

The current claims and objections window also gives voters an important opportunity:

• To correct errors in name, age, gender, or address.

• To submit missing documents that were overlooked during enumeration.

• To ensure they are correctly registered in the right constituency.

Thus, the process empowers citizens to actively participate in maintaining the accuracy of the democratic register.

Conclusion

With 98.2% of documents already received and a streamlined verification process in motion, the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar stands as a model of electoral efficiency. The addition of 3.28 lakh new young voters, the minimal number of objections, and the active involvement of officials and volunteers all indicate that the process is progressing smoothly and transparently.

By September 30, 2025, Bihar will have in place an error-free, updated, and inclusive electoral roll, ensuring that every eligible citizen has the chance to exercise their democratic right.

The ECI’s emphasis on inclusivity, accuracy, and transparency once again reaffirms its role as the guardian of India’s democratic process.

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