The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar has completed its initial phase, setting the stage for upcoming assembly elections. The process revealed a significant drop of 8% in registered voters compared to June 24, 2025, sparking concerns about potential disenfranchisement. Despite this, the Election Commission has assured that voters whose names were removed have opportunities to restore their registration.
The Election Commission clarified that due process will be followed for any name removals from the draft list, responding to criticisms of the SIR process. They also detailed ten objectives of the SIR to highlight its inclusive nature and commitment to protecting voter rights.
The draft voter list will undergo scrutiny from August 1st to September 1st. This draft is not the final list, allowing time for corrections and additions. The Election Commission emphasized the importance of this period for ensuring the accuracy of the voter rolls, with the final list set to be published on September 30th.
Voters have a month to address any errors or omissions in the draft voter list. The Election Commission has provided a mechanism for voters and political parties to raise objections or claims. This involves contacting the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) of the relevant assembly constituencies by September 1, 2025.
During the initial SIR phase, approximately 72.4 million forms were collected in Bihar. This represents 8% fewer voters compared to the registration figures before the start of the SIR on June 24th. The decrease is more pronounced than the 6.2% drop observed in the last Lok Sabha elections and the 1.6% drop compared to the 2020 assembly elections.