Over 61 Lakh Voters Missing from Bihar’s Draft Electoral Roll: ECI Data Ahead of SIR Deadline

Quick Summary

• Over 61 lakh voters in Bihar may not appear in the new draft electoral rolls, to be published on August 1, 2025.
• Reasons cited by the Election Commission of India (ECI):

– 21.6 lakh deceased electors
– 31.5 lakh permanently migrated from the State
– 7 lakh enrolled at multiple locations
– 1 lakh untraceable individuals
– Additionally, about 7 lakh people have yet to submit enumeration forms under the Special Intensive revision (SIR) a day before its deadline.

• Despite challenges, forms for 91.32% of Bihar’s electors (7.21 crore) have been received and digitized.
• Draft rolls will be made available for verification by political parties and on the ECI website; filers have until September 1 to claim corrections or object to entries.
• Opposition has protested against this process, fearing disenfranchisement of eligible voters.
• Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar defended SIR as necesary for maintaining accuracy and ensuring eligibility in line wiht constitutional principles.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar highlights key issues about voter integrity versus inclusivity. While it aims to remove deceased and invalid entries-crucial for securing openness-the sheer scale of those omitted raises concerns about administrative efficiency amidst India’s vast voting population. The involvement of Booth Level Officers and Agents suggests a rigorous approach but also underscores possible gaps that need rectification within timelines.

Politically, opposition protests stem from fears that legitimate voters could face exclusion, potentially impacting election outcomes given India’s complex sociopolitical landscape. The september 1 deadline offers scope for all parties to ensure amendments-signifying some balance between accuracy demands and widespread representation.

Neutral engagement with this issue is paramount-not onyl within Bihar but also across national contexts as voter list revisions align with democratic accountability while steering clear from disenfranchising eligible citizens unintentionally.

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