A comprehensive review of Bihar’s voter rolls, known as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), has led to significant changes in the state’s voter count. The Election Commission’s data shows a considerable decrease in the total number of voters, with millions removed from the rolls due to various reasons.
Key findings from the SIR include the removal of over 22 lakh deceased voters, the identification of over 36 lakh voters who have relocated, and the discovery of over 7 lakh voters registered in multiple locations. These changes have led to a decrease in the overall voter base from 78,969,844 to 72,405,756.
The ECI is currently in the process of receiving claims and objections, giving citizens an opportunity to review and update their information. The final voter list is scheduled to be released on September 1st.
Notable districts have experienced substantial declines in voter numbers. In Patna, the capital city, there was a reduction of nearly 4 lakh voters. Saran saw a decrease of over 2.7 lakh voters. The revision also impacted districts like West Champaran, East Champaran, Purnia, Vaishali, and Samastipur, each experiencing a decrease in voter counts.
The released draft voter list includes data from over 90,000 polling booths across the state’s 243 constituencies.