Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 27: Just a day before the Supreme Court is set to hear petitions challenging its decision to carry out a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the successful completion of the enumeration phase in the poll-bound state.
Held between June 24 and July 25, 2025, the campaign saw an impressive 7.24 crore out of 7.89 crore electors submitting their enumeration forms — signaling strong voter engagement and high outreach across Bihar.
According to a press statement issued by the poll panel, the updated draft electoral rolls, due for publication on August 1, will see the removal of nearly 65 lakh entries. This includes:
• 22 lakh deceased voters (2.83%)
• 36 lakh electors (4.59%) found to have permanently shifted or missing
• 7 lakh duplicate entries (0.89%) enrolled in multiple locations
A Massive Electoral Mobilisation Effort
The ECI hailed the SIR campaign as one of Bihar’s most comprehensive voter roll clean-ups, carried out just ahead of a critical Assembly election. The campaign was designed with the core mission of “No Elector Left Behind”, targeting:
• First-time voters
• Urban populations
• Interstate migrants
• Elderly citizens and PwDs (Persons with Disabilities)
All 12 major political parties in Bihar took part in the exercise, with a 16% surge in the appointment of Booth Level Agents (BLAs). CPI(M) and Congress recorded the highest increases in BLA nominations — 1083% and over 100%, respectively. The BJP led in absolute numbers, fielding over 53,000 BLAs, followed closely by RJD and JD(U).
High-Tech, High-Touch Strategy
The campaign also marked a digital leap in voter outreach:
• Over 29 lakh forms were submitted online via the ECI website and mobile app.
• A record 10.2 crore SMS alerts were sent, including repeat confirmations for form submissions.
• The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar coordinated with counterparts in other states to reach temporary migrants originally from Bihar.
Youth and Marginalised Voter Focus
In a bid to empower new voters, the ECI will launch a special month-long drive (August 1–September 1) to register citizens turning 18 by October 1, 2025. Volunteers and officials will continue assisting senior citizens and PwDs with registration and document formalities.
The draft electoral rolls will be made available both online and at physical locations starting August 1. Citizens will have a one-month window to file:
• Inclusions
• Deletions
• Corrections
Importantly, no deletion will occur without a formal speaking order, and appeals can be filed under Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
With its scale, inclusivity, and tech-backed implementation, the ECI’s Bihar roll revision is being widely regarded as a benchmark in electoral transparency and voter empowerment — even as it faces legal scrutiny in the Supreme Court.