Bihar SIR Draft Removes Over 65 Lakh Voters from Electoral Rolls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has concluded the first phase of its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar, resulting in the removal of over 65 lakh names from the state’s electoral rolls. This significant reduction, announced on Friday, has sparked widespread debate and criticism, with opposition parties alleging that the process is an attempt to disenfranchise voters ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections later this year.

The draft electoral roll, published after the SIR exercise, shows a decrease from 7.89 crore registered voters in June 2025 to 7.24 crore. The ECI attributes the removal of 65 lakh voters to several factors: approximately 22 lakh deceased individuals, 36 lakh who have permanently migrated out of Bihar, 7 lakh with duplicate registrations, and 1.2 lakh who remain untraceable or failed to submit required enumeration forms. The state capital, Patna, recorded the highest number of exclusions at 3.95 lakh, followed by Madhubani (3.52 lakh), East Champaran (3.16 lakh), and Gopalganj (3.10 lakh).

The SIR, initiated on June 25, 2025, aimed to update Bihar’s voter list to ensure its accuracy, a process not undertaken since 2003. Unlike the standard Special Summary Revision (SSR), the SIR required voters to submit enumeration forms, with those registered after 2003 needing to provide one of 11 specified documents, such as birth certificates or passports, to verify eligibility. The ECI clarified that voters listed in the 2003 rolls were exempt from submitting additional documents, but the process has raised concerns about accessibility, particularly for marginalised communities.

Opposition parties, under the INDIA bloc, have labeled the SIR an “exercise in exclusion.” Leaders argue that the requirement for specific documents disproportionately affects Dalits, backward classes, and minorities, many of whom lack access to such paperwork.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) spokesperson Chittaranjan Gagan questioned the ECI’s transparency, asking whether notices were issued to the affected voters as mandated by the Election Representation Act. “How can 22 lakh people have died in just six months since the January 2025 voter list?” Gagan remarked, highlighting the opposition’s skepticism about the ECI’s data. Trinamool Congress MP and national general Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday termed SIR, 'Silent Invisible Rigging' of electoral rolls, accusing Election Commission of also being part of a BJP nexus. The INDIA bloc has also demanded a detailed, Assembly-wise list of removed voters and raised concerns about the lack of door-to-door verification. Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation leader Dipankar Bhattacharya criticised the ECI for not sharing comprehensive data with political parties, stating, “Had the details been shared, we could have cross-checked them before the draft was prepared.” The opposition has approached the Supreme Court, alleging that the SIR resembles a “backdoor” implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), a charge the ECI denies.

The ECI has defended the SIR, emphasising its necessity to maintain the integrity of the electoral roll. It noted that 99.8% of Bihar’s electors were covered, with 7.23 crore forms digitised. The commission has also provided a window from August 1 to September 1, 2025, for voters to file claims or objections, allowing those omitted to seek inclusion before the final roll is published on September 30. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant EROs are required to hold hearings before finalising any deletions, with appeals possible before District Magistrates or the Chief Electoral Officer.

The Supreme Court, responding to petitions from opposition parties and civil society groups, has scheduled hearings for August 12 and 13 to address concerns about the SIR. Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi emphasised that the exercise should prioritise “en masse inclusion” over exclusion, assuring intervention if errors, such as listing living voters as deceased, are found. The court noted that the January 2025 voter list serves as the baseline, and omissions can be corrected during the claims period.

Political analyst Yogendra Yadav has called for the SIR’s immediate suspension, arguing that it undermines universal adult franchise by placing the burden of proof on voters. “The presumption of non-citizenship is unconstitutional,” Yadav stated, warning that the 65 lakh exclusions could be just the beginning if further scrutiny is applied.

As Bihar prepares for its Assembly elections, the SIR controversy has intensified political tensions. The opposition’s protests in Parliament and public campaigns signal a broader fight against perceived voter suppression. Meanwhile, the ECI maintains that the revision is a routine effort to ensure a clean voter list, urging eligible voters to verify their status online or through district authorities.​