The Election Commission of India has finalized and released the voter list for Bihar, following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process conducted in preparation for the upcoming assembly elections. This information has been made available on the Commission’s website, offering citizens a platform to access and review their details. The updated list incorporates 1.4 million new voters.
This final voter list was released on Tuesday after the SIR process carried out across Bihar in anticipation of the assembly elections. Voters can access their details through a link on the Election Commission’s website. For more information, individuals can visit https://voters.eci.gov.in/.
**Last Chance to Register: 10 Days Before Nominations**
Voters who find their names missing from the list have the opportunity to register or re-register until 10 days before the final nomination date. The necessary form to be filled for new registrations or additions is Form 6. The District Magistrates will distribute physical copies of the final voter list to 12 recognized political parties today, along with photographic documentation.
The publication of the final voter list follows a special intensive revision of the voter list in Bihar, a process that hadn’t been undertaken for 22 years. The draft voter list was published on August 1, with a period extending to September 1 for citizens and political parties to raise any claims or objections. The draft list initially included 72.4 million voters.
**Opposition Voices Concerns Over SIR**
Opposition parties have been vocal in their criticism of the SIR process, implemented just before the elections. They voiced concerns that the process could potentially disenfranchise a large number of legitimate voters. In response, the Election Commission has assured that it will ensure no eligible voter is removed from the list, and that no ineligible person will be included.
The term of the 243-member Bihar Assembly is scheduled to conclude on November 22. The last assembly elections in the state were conducted in 2020, spanning three phases.
**Election Dates Expected Next Week**
With the final voter list now published, the Election Commission is expected to announce the election schedule sometime next week. Prior to this, the Commission will conduct a visit to Patna on October 4 and 5 to assess the election preparedness in Bihar. Sources suggest that the election schedule announcement may indeed occur next week.
It’s anticipated that the first phase of voting might commence in late October, shortly after the Chhath Puja festival. Furthermore, the Election Commission plans to deploy 470 observers to oversee the elections in Bihar and by-elections in other states.