New Delhi, July 22, 2025 – The Election Commission of India (ECI) has released a shocking report from its ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, revealing significant discrepancies in the voter list ahead of the state assembly elections. The report indicates that over 52.3 lakh electors could not be located at their registered addresses, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.

Key Findings of the SIR Report:

• 18.6 lakh deceased voters remain listed on the electoral rolls.
• 26 lakh voters have permanently shifted to other constituencies.
• 7.5 lakh electors are found to be enrolled in multiple locations.
• 2.70% of electors (approximately 21.36 lakh) have yet to submit complete enumeration forms or provide required information.

The ECI’s SIR, launched on June 24, 2025, aims to clean up Bihar’s electoral rolls, which cover approximately 7.89 crore registered voters. As of July 21, 2025, the ECI reported that 96.23% of electors (7.59 crore) have been covered, with 7.16 crore enumeration forms received. However, the absence of over 52.3 lakh voters at their registered addresses has sparked widespread debate and allegations of mismanagement.

Political Reactions and Allegations

The report has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, Trinamool Congress, and Samajwadi Party. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav accused the ECI of working under political influence, stating, “The Election Commission of India is working under the direction of the BJP office.” Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi highlighted “massive irregularities” and questioned the ECI’s independence, pointing to an “atmosphere of chaos” among voters.

Political parties have been provided with lists of 29.62 lakh electors who have not submitted their enumeration forms and 43.93 lakh electors not found at their addresses. The ECI has engaged 12 major political parties and 1.5 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to verify the status of these electors before the July 25 deadline.

Transparency Measures and Next Steps

To address concerns, the ECI has emphasized transparency:

• Draft Electoral Roll: Set to be published on August 1, 2025, with a one-month window (until September 1) for political parties and the public to file claims and objections.
• Final Electoral Roll: Scheduled for release on September 30, 2025, after addressing all claims and objections by September 25.
• Appeals Process: Aggrieved voters can appeal to the District Magistrate or Chief Electoral Officer under Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

The ECI has also deployed 77,895 Booth Level Officers (BLOs), 4 lakh volunteers, and 20,000 newly appointed BLOs to assist with house-to-house verification and form collection. Electors who have migrated can submit forms online via the ECINet App or voters.eci.gov.in.

Concerns Over Disenfranchisement

The SIR process has faced scrutiny for its stringent requirements, including proof of citizenship and parental identity, which critics argue could disenfranchise vulnerable groups, particularly in a state with high poverty and migration rates. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing petitions challenging the SIR’s constitutionality, with arguments that it violates fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution.

A Critical Step for Bihar Elections

With Bihar’s assembly elections expected in October-November 2025, the SIR is a crucial effort to ensure a clean and accurate voter list. However, the scale of irregularities uncovered has intensified calls for accountability and reform in the electoral process.

Stay tuned to BharatTone for the latest updates on this developing story.

Sources: Election Commisson