Bihar Electoral Roll Revision Causes Uproar

The Election Commission of India (ECI) decided to conduct a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar. This is due to the upcoming assembly elections. This decision of the apex electoral body has drawn scrutiny and objections from various parties.

EC’s Electoral Roll Powers

Article 324(1) of the Constitution empowers the Election Commission. It provides “superintendence, direction and control” over preparing the electoral rolls. It also oversees the conduct of elections to Parliament and state legislatures. The EC prepares the electoral rolls following the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (RP Act).

Section 21(3) of the RP Act states that the ECI may direct a special revision of the electoral roll. This can happen at any time. This can be done for any constituency or part of a constituency in such manner as it may think fit. According to the Registration of Electors’ Rules, 1960, the revision of electoral rolls can be carried out intensively or summarily. It can also be done partly intensively and partly summarily, as the [ECI] may direct. A fresh electoral roll is drawn up in an intensive revision, while the roll is amended in a summary revision.

Also read: Nitish or New CM in Bihar in 2025: Exploring Possibilities

The need of revision

On June 24, the Election Commission announced a “special intensive revision” of the electoral roll in poll-bound Bihar. It asked all existing voters who were not on the electoral rolls in 2003 to provide documentation. They needed to prove their eligibility by July 26.

EC stated the reason for this order was that significant change in the electoral roll has taken place. Over the last 20 years, changes occurred due to additions and deletions on a large scale.

Rapid urbanisation has also caused large-scale migrations. Voters who migrate often register themselves at another place. They fail to get their names deleted from the electoral roll of the initial place of residence. This causes repeated entries.

The order added that “thus the situation requires careful action. An intensive verification drive is needed to verify each person before enrolment as an elector.” The EC  further said it will conduct a special intensive revision for the entire country.

The Process of Revision

2.93 crore voters are estimated to not be recorded in the 2003 electoral rolls. The EC has asked these voters to submit an enumeration form. They need to include at least one of 11 documents. These documents should establish the date and place of birth for themselves and their parents.

The accepted documents to establish proof of citizenship include a passport. They also include a birth certificate, SC/ST certificate, and a matriculation or educational certificate issued by recognised boards/universities. Permanent residence certificate, family register, forest right certificate, and land/house allotment certificate by the government are also accepted. The EC has excluded Aadhaar and PAN as acceptable documents for the exercise. It said that “Aadhaar is meant for the identity of the person and is not a valid document for the address proof. It is also not valid for the date of birth.”

The EC ordered changes last month. Since then, the Block Level Officers (BLOs) have been visiting households with existing voters. They are collecting signatures on pre-filled forms and additional documents if needed. Electors whose enumeration forms are not submitted by July 25 will be removed from the voter list. The draft electoral rolls will be released on August 1. Voters can contest their deletion from rolls from August 1 to September 1.

The final draft of the voter list will be published in September.

Role of EROs

The order also explained the role of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), who is usually a sub-divisional magistrate. The order said that EROs “shall not delete any entry from the draft roll without conducting an inquiry. They must give a fair and reasonable opportunity to the persons concerned”. 

The Representation of the People Act, 1950, assigns responsibility to the ERO of the constituency. They are responsible for including names in the electoral rolls. The ERO ensures that eligible names are added. Section 23 (2) of the Act says, “The electoral registration officer shall, if satisfied that the applicant is entitled to be registered in the electoral roll, direct his name to be included therein…”

CEC & EC Issue Clarifications

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar defended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He made this defense on Sunday in the poll-bound state. CEC said the poll panel had “invited all recognised political parties for interaction” on the matter. He observed that “no one was satisfied with the current status of electoral rolls for one reason or the other”.  

The Election Commission (EC) also clarified the details. The SIR was being conducted as per its June 24 order. The order was announcing the exercise. It stated that “there is no change in the instructions”.

“As per instructions, draft electoral rolls will be issued on 1 August 2025. These rolls will contain the names of persons whose enumeration forms are received. The electors can submit their documents any time before July 25, 2025. After publication of draft Electoral Rolls, if any document is deficient, EROs (Electoral Registration Officers) can obtain the necessary documents. They will collect these documents from electors. These electors are those whose names appear in the draft Electoral Rolls. Collection will occur during scrutiny in the Claims and Objection period.” 

“More than 1/5th of enumeration forms have come back within two days. At this rate, we might complete the exercise before time. Therefore, extension of the deadline is not a question at the moment,” a top ECI official stated.

The office of the Bihar Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) published an advertisement in local newspapers. It informs electors that they can submit their enumeration forms now. They can provide the required documents later.

The advertisement, published in Hindi, carried the CEO’s “appeal” to electors. It urged them to fill out your enumeration forms. Then, submit the forms with documents and your photograph to BLOs as early as possible. The second point read, “If you do not have requisite documents, then provide the enumeration forms to the BLOs.”

Political Storm Over SIR

Various political parties have questioned the timing of the revision process and its transparency. 

Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) Tejashwi Yadav is the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly. He called the revision of electoral polls in the state ahead of Assembly elections a “conspiracy”. He said the last revision, carried out in 2003, took 2 years to complete. With the polls in November, ECI now has 25 days to enumerate 8 crore people. “And that too when 73 per cent of the state is affected by floods!”

The Congress stated that the poll body’s announcement was a “clear and explicit admission.” It revealed that all is not well with India’s electoral rolls. It said in a statement that the electoral roll revision carried the risk of “willful exclusion” of voters. The state machinery could be used because it is up to government officials to decide who has the correct documents.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called the EC’s move “more dangerous than NRC [National Register of Citizens]”. She alleged that her state, which will go to polls next year, was the real “target”.

Regarding the advertisement published by CEO, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote on X, “…With pressure from the Opposition, the public, and civil society mounting, the Election Commission hurriedly published these advertisements today. Pressure is coming from the Opposition, the public, and civil society. Therefore, the Election Commission hastily published these advertisements today. They state that now only a form needs to be filled. Showing documents is not necessary. This is part of the BJP’s tactic to mislead and confuse the public. The truth is that the BJP has decided it will crush democracy at all costs. But when faced with public opposition, it cleverly takes a step back. Bihar is the birthplace of democracy. The people of Bihar will surely respond to this BJP attack on democracy and the Constitution in the upcoming elections.”

The leaders from the INDIA bloc have given a call for a state-wide bandh on July 9. This group includes the Congress, RJD, and Left parties. Congress sources said Rahul is likely to lead the party’s state unit foot march. The march is in protest against the ECI’s move.

Petition Hearing in Supreme Court

Several petitioners have moved the Supreme Court against the revision of voter lists ahead of Bihar Assembly elections. The petitioners include Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra. Also included are poll watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms and rights body People’s Union for Civil Liberties. Activist Yogendra Yadav and former MLA Mujahid Alam are among them as well. The SC agreed to hear the batch of petitions against the EC’s order on Thursday.

Millions of voters may have voted in one or all of the last five general elections and five assembly elections. They now have to present documentary evidence rather quickly. This is to validate their right to vote. There is no precedent of such a hasty revision in Indian electoral history.

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