The first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar concluded before the assembly elections. This process, completed on June 24, 2025, revealed a decrease of 6.5 million voters, representing 8% less than the total registered voters. Amidst concerns raised by the opposition that the Election Commission might disenfranchise eligible voters through this process, individuals whose names have been removed from the voter list still have an opportunity to get their names reinstated.
Addressing the criticism surrounding the special intensive revision process, the Election Commission emphasized on Sunday that no voter’s name would be removed from the draft list without following proper procedures. The commission also outlined ten objectives of SIR to demonstrate its comprehensive nature and its intent to prevent any voter from being denied their right to vote.
The draft voter list will be scrutinized for a month, starting August 1st and continuing until September 1st. According to the Election Commission, this draft voter list published in Bihar is not the final voting list. A month will be available to include eligible voters and exclude ineligible ones. The draft voter list will be published on August 1st, while the final voter list will be released on September 30th.
The Election Commission also stated that a period from August 1st to September 1st will be dedicated to correcting the inclusion and exclusion of voters’ names. At the end of the first phase of SIR, which lasted a month, the Election Commission reported receiving forms from 72.4 million or 91.69 percent of the state’s voters. This represents a decrease of 6.5 million (8%) compared to the total number of registered voters on June 24th.
According to the Election Commission, after the first phase of SIR concludes on August 1st, the draft voter list will be published. If any errors or omissions are identified in the draft list, any voter or political party can file an objection with the relevant ERO (Electoral Registration Officer) or AERO (Assistant Electoral Registration Officer) of that assembly constituency by September 1, 2025, regarding the inclusion of a proposed voter’s name. Similarly, if the name of an eligible person is not included in the draft voter list, they can submit their claim by September 1, 2025.
In the first phase of SIR in Bihar, 72.4 million forms were submitted. This number is 6.5 million (8%) less than the total number of registered voters on June 24th before SIR began. During the Lok Sabha elections held last year, this figure was 4.8 million (6.2%) lower. Furthermore, it is 1.2 million (1.6%) less than the number of registered voters during the assembly elections held in 2020.
