‘For Error-Free Bihar Polls': ECI Announces State's First Electoral Roll Revision In 22 Years
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ECI said 'rapid urbanisation, frequent migration, non-reporting of deaths and inclusion of foreign illegal immigrants have necessitated the revision'
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar for the first time since 2003 to ensure error-free voter lists, with special focus on enrolling all eligible citizens, deleting ineligible entries, and enhancing transparency in the electoral process.
The poll body said various reasons, including 'rapid urbanisation, frequent migration, young citizens becoming eligible to vote, non-reporting of deaths and inclusion of the names of foreign illegal immigrants have necessitated the conduct of an intensive revision" so as to ensure integrity and preparation of error-free electoral rolls.
In the Delhi assembly elections, held earlier this year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of 'patronising" illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants in the national capital, claiming their presence is affecting the electoral process. The party had made similar remarks for West Bengal as well.
The elections in Bihar are expected to be held by the end of the year as the term of the state assembly ends in November.
ECI'S SPECIAL INTENSIVE REVISION DRIVE
For the drive, the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will conduct door-to-door surveys for verification during the process. 'The objective of an intensified revision is to ensure that the names of all eligible citizens are included in the Electoral Roll so as to enable them to exercise their franchise, and no ineligible voter is included in the electoral rolls and also to introduce complete transparency in the process of addition or deletion of electors in the electoral rolls," an official statement reads.
In case of any claims and objections raised by any political party or an elector, the poll body official will inquire into the same before satisfaction is arrived at. If there are further issues, an appeal against the order can also be made to the District Magistrate and the Chief Electoral Officer.
The poll body has directed that economically weaker and other vulnerable groups, including the elderly, sick, and Persons with Disabilities (PwD), should not be harassed and are facilitated to the extent possible, including through deployment of volunteers to take care of genuine electors.
PARTICIPATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES
The ECI has sought active involvement of all political parties in the process by appointing their Booth Level Agents (BLAs) in all polling booths.
'The active participation of BLAs would ensure that discrepancies, if any, are resolved at the preparation stage itself, thereby reducing the instances of filing claims, objections and appeals. It may be underscored that both the electors and the political parties, are the most important stakeholders in any electoral process and it is only with their full participation that an exercise of such magnitude can be conducted smoothly and successfully," the ECI said.
झूठ बोले कौवा काटे काले कौवे से डरियो…राहुल गांधी,माना की महाराष्ट्र की करारी हार की आपकी पीड़ा दिन प्रतिदिन बढ़ती जा रही है.लेकिन कब तक हवा में तीर चलाते रहोगे?वैसे आप की जानकारी के लिए, महाराष्ट्र में ऐसे 25 से अधिक चुनाव क्षेत्र है जहाँ 8% से अधिक मतदाता लोकसभा और… https://t.co/YtpuKNeUNE
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) June 24, 2025
RAHUL GANDHI CONTINUES QUESTIONING MAHARASHTRA VOTER LIST
The announcement from the poll body was made on a day when Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of 'vote theft" in Maharashtra polls, saying that BLOs reported unknown individuals casting votes.
'Media uncovered thousands of voters with no verified address. And the EC? Silent – or complicit. These aren't isolated glitches. This is vote theft. The cover-up is the confession. That's why we demand the immediate release of machine-readable digital voter rolls and CCTV footage," he posted on X.
The Chief Electoral Officers of both Maharashtra and Haryana also posted on X saying that 'electoral rolls are prepared transparently; copies were shared with recognised parties".
The Maharashtra CEO said that during the second Special Summary Revision-2024, which was taken up before the General Elections to Maharashtra Assembly-2024, the copies of draft and final electoral rolls of all 288 assemblies were provided to representatives of all recognised political parties including INC. 'Between draft and final publication of rolls, 19,27,508 claims and objections were received for consideration. As per law, appeal can be filed against wrongful additions or deletions in the Electoral Rolls. Only 89 Appeals were received," the statement reads.
The Haryana CEO also said that before the General Election to Haryana assembly-2024, during the Special Summary Revision period, the copies of draft and final electoral rolls of all 90 assemblies were given to representatives of all recognised political parties including Congress. 'Further, between draft and final publication of rolls 4,16,408 claims and objections were received and disposed of," they said.
About the Author
Nivedita Singh
Nivedita Singh is a data journalist and covers the Election Commission, Indian Railways and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. She has nearly seven years of experience in the news media. She tweets @nived...Read More
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