Bihar Electoral Roll Revision 2025: Will Your Vote Be Counted?

Imagine waking up to find your name missing from the voter list just weeks before a crucial election. For millions in Bihar, this fear is real as the Election Commission of India (ECI) rolls out a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections.

Announced on June 24, 2025, this massive exercise aims to clean up voter lists but has sparked widespread panic, with many fearing they’ll lose their right to vote.

• Why the Revision Is Happening: The ECI’s goals and reasons for the SIR, including urbanisation and migration concerns.
• Voter Fears and Challenges: Why 2.93 crore voters are worried about documentation and potential exclusion.
• The SIR Process Explained: Step-by-step guide to the revision, timelines, and required documents.
• Political Controversy: Opposition claims of voter suppression vs. ECI and NDA assurances.
• Quick Summary for Busy Readers: Key points for those short on time.
• Interactive Data Insights: Visuals to clarify voter statistics and documentation issues.
• How to Protect Your Vote: Practical tips to navigate the SIR and stay on the voter list.
• Future Implications: What this means for Bihar’s elections and India’s democracy.

Why the Revision Is Happening

The ECI launched the SIR on June 25, 2025, to overhaul Bihar’s electoral rolls, last revised intensively in 2003.

With 7.89 crore registered voters across 243 constituencies, the ECI aims to ensure only eligible Indian citizens above 18, residing in their constituencies, are listed. The reasons include:

• Urbanisation and Migration: Rapid urban growth and frequent migration have led to outdated voter lists with duplicate or missing names.
• New Voters: Young citizens turning 18 need to be added.
• Ineligible Entries: Non-reported deaths and alleged “foreign illegal immigrants” must be removed.
• Constitutional Mandate: Article 326 requires accurate rolls to protect electoral integrity.

The ECI plans to extend this exercise nationwide, but Bihar’s revision, set to conclude by September 30, 2025, is the first due to upcoming Assembly polls in October–November.

Voter Fears and Challenges: Why the Panic?

For 2.93 crore voters (37% of Bihar’s electorate) not listed in the 2003 rolls, the SIR demands proof of citizenship and birth details, sparking widespread fear. Here’s why:

• Documentation Woes: Voters must submit one of 11 ECI-approved documents (e.g., passport, birth certificate, caste certificate). However, Bihar’s low birth registration rate—only 25% of births were registered in 2007—means many, especially the poor and marginalised, lack these papers. Aadhaar and ration cards, widely held, are not accepted.
• Parental Documentation: Those born after 1987 must also provide parental birth details, a hurdle for migrant workers or those with deceased parents.
• Tight Timeline: The revision, from June 25 to July 25, gives voters just a month to gather documents, with the draft roll published on August 1.
• Exclusion Risks: Opposition parties estimate 2–2.5 crore voters, particularly Dalits, Muslims, and Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), could be disenfranchised due to poverty, illiteracy, and bureaucratic red tape.

Example: In Saran district, voters like Chandra Mohan Singh are confused about the forms, while Yogendra Baitha holds an Aadhaar card but no ECI-approved documents. Meena Devi, 66, says, “If they want these documents, they should open a counter at the block office.”

• Lack Birth Certificates: 60%
• No Parental Documents: 25%
• Other Issues: 15%
  Allow users to click segments for tips on obtaining documents.

The SIR Process Explained

The SIR, running until September 30, 2025, involves five phases:

1. Form Distribution (June 25–July 3): 77,895 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and 20,603 new recruits distribute Enumeration Forms (EFs) to 7.89 crore voters. Forms are pre-filled for those on the 2003 rolls.
2. Form Submission (Until July 25): Voters submit EFs with self-attested documents. Those on 2003 rolls need only the form and roll extract; others need proof of birth (self and/or parents).
3. Data Collection (June 25–July 26): BLOs collect forms, issue receipts, and upload data via the ECI app. Online submission is available from July 4.
4. Draft Roll Publication (August 1): The draft roll is shared with political parties and uploaded online.
5. Claims and Objections (August 1–September 1): Voters can file for inclusion or object to entries using Form 6. No deletions occur without inquiry.

Key Documents:

• Passport, birth certificate, caste certificate, educational certificate, pension order, or 2003 roll extract.
• For post-1987 births: Additional parental documents (one parent for 1987–2004 births; both for post-2004).

Political Controversy: Voter Suppression or Necessary Cleanup?

The SIR has ignited a political firestorm:

• Opposition’s Claims: The INDIA bloc, including Congress, RJD, and CPI-ML, calls the SIR a “backdoor NRC,” alleging it targets marginalised groups to suppress anti-BJP votes. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi estimates 2.5 crore voters could be excluded, noting the timing—just months before polls—is suspect. RJD’s Manoj Jha highlights migrant workers’ struggles to return for verification.
• ECI’s Defense: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar insists the SIR is transparent, with 1.54 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from parties ensuring fairness. The ECI says 4.96 crore voters (60%) on 2003 rolls face minimal hurdles, and volunteers assist vulnerable groups.
• NDA’s Stance: BJP allies like Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi defend the SIR, claiming it removes “bogus voters” (e.g., 20,000 per constituency) while ensuring no genuine voter is excluded. However, some allies privately worry about the feasibility given Bihar’s poverty and illiteracy.

Quick Summary

• What’s Happening: The ECI’s SIR, started June 25, 2025, aims to update Bihar’s 7.89 crore voter rolls by September 30 for the Assembly polls.
• Why Voters Are Scared: 2.93 crore voters need birth and parental documents, which many lack due to low registration rates and poverty.
• Process: BLOs distribute forms until July 3; submit by July 25. Draft roll out on August 1; final roll by September 30.
• Controversy: Opposition fears voter suppression; ECI and NDA insist it ensures accuracy.
• Action: Check your voter status, gather documents, and contact BLOs to stay listed.

How to Protect Your Vote

1. Check Your Status: Verify if your name is on the 2003 roll at eci.gov.in. If listed, submit only the EF with the roll extract.
2. Gather Documents: Obtain a passport, birth certificate, or caste certificate. Visit block offices early to avoid delays.
3. Submit Forms: Complete the EF and submit it to BLOs by July 25. Use the online portal from July 4 if accessible.
4. File Claims: If excluded from the draft roll (August 1), file Form 6 by September 1 to reclaim your spot.
5. Seek Help: Contact volunteers or BLAs from political parties for assistance, especially if you’re elderly or disabled.

Pro Tip: Save the BLO’s contact number and keep acknowledgment receipts for submitted forms.

Future Implications: A Test for Democracy

The SIR’s outcome will shape Bihar’s elections and set a precedent for nationwide revisions. If successful, it could enhance electoral integrity.

However, mass exclusions could erode trust in the ECI, fuel legal challenges, and deepen political divides. The opposition’s comparison to the NRC raises concerns about targeting minorities and migrants, while the ECI’s tight timeline risks logistical failures.

Bihar’s voters, especially the poor and marginalised, need clearer communication and support to navigate this process.