Ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists has concluded its first phase, resulting in a notable reduction in registered voters. Data indicates that 6.5 million fewer voters are listed compared to figures from June 24, 2025. This has raised concerns about potential voter exclusion.
The Election Commission has emphasized that no eligible voter will be wrongly removed and has outlined procedures for ensuring fairness. The SIR process, they say, is designed to be inclusive and to protect voter rights.
A critical period for reviewing the draft voter list is scheduled from August 1st to September 1st. This period allows for corrections to be made before the final list is published on September 30th.
Voters have the opportunity to address any errors or omissions within the draft list. Objections and claims can be filed with EROs and AEROs in the respective assembly constituencies, with a deadline of September 1, 2025.
The SIR initiative in Bihar saw 72.4 million forms submitted. This figure is lower by 8% compared to the number of registered voters prior to the commencement of the SIR process on June 24th. Comparisons with past election cycles highlight the magnitude of the current changes in voter registration.