Election Commission Publishes Final Electoral Roll for Bihar Ahead of Polls
The Election Commission of India has published the final electoral roll for Bihar, a crucial step ahead of the state's upcoming Assembly elections. The list was finalized after a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise that resulted in the deletion of approximately 65 lakh names from the draft roll due to reasons like death or relocation. The process has been contentious, with opposition parties alleging it could disenfranchise genuine voters, a claim the EC has denied, stating the revision was essential for accuracy.
Unpacked:
Opposition parties allege the Special Intensive Revision disproportionately targeted poor and minority voters, accusing the Election Commission of mass disenfranchisement and collusion with the BJP. They argue the process could strip genuine voters of their rights, leading to protests and legal challenges in the Supreme Court.
Voters can verify their status on the final electoral roll by visiting the official Election Commission website (voters.eci.gov.in), where the updated list is available for public access following the Special Intensive Revision.
Voters whose names were deleted can apply for inclusion up to 10 days before the last date of nomination. Their names will appear in a supplementary list for the current election and be added to the regular rolls for future elections by submitting the required forms and documents.
Bihar is the first state to undergo a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls before the 2025 Assembly elections. The Election Commission plans to announce similar revisions for other states later, but Bihar's process is unique in its timing and scale.