The Election Commission of India (ECI) has published the final electoral roll for Bihar following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), paving the way for the 2025 Assembly elections scheduled for October-November. The updated list now includes over 7.3 crore voters, with more than 14 lakh new additions—mostly individuals aged 18 and above. Voters can check their names online via the official portal, while physical copies are available at district election offices and shared with political parties.
The final publication, announced today, incorporates all claims and objections from the draft rolls released in August. The SIR process, initiated in June, aimed to clean up the voter database ahead of the polls for all 243 constituencies.
Key Highlights of the Revision
- Total Voters: Approximately 7.3 crore (73 million) eligible voters.
- New Additions: Over 14 lakh first-time voters, primarily young adults turning 18.
- Deletions: Around 65 lakh names removed to eliminate inaccuracies, including over 22 lakh deceased voters, 35 lakh shifted residents, and 7 lakh duplicates. Affected voters had 30 days to file claims for reinstatement.
- Claims Processed: Over 36,000 applications for additions, 2.17 lakh for deletions, and 3 lakh notices issued for missing documents.
The exercise began with 7.89 crore voters in June, reducing to 7.24 crore in the draft after verifications. Opposition parties had raised concerns over potential exclusions, especially among migrants, but the ECI dismissed these as unfounded, emphasizing the process’s transparency.
How to Check Your Name in the Voter List
Voters can easily verify their details using these steps:
- Visit the official ECI portal: voters.eci.gov.in or electoralsearch.eci.gov.in.
- Select “Search in Electoral Roll” and choose Bihar as the state.
- Enter your EPIC number, name, or other details like date of birth and district.
- Submit to view your status; download the PDF if your name appears.
Alternatively, use the Bihar CEO website: ceoelection.bihar.gov.in. Physical rolls are accessible at district election officers’ offices for those without online access.
District-Wise Deletions
The SIR led to significant clean-ups across districts, with thousands of names removed per area. Below is a table summarizing the deletions:
| District | Deletions |
|---|---|
| West Champaran | 191,376 |
| East Champaran | 316,793 |
| Sheohar | 28,166 |
| Sitamarhi | 244,962 |
| Madhubani | 352,545 |
| Supaul | 128,207 |
| Araria | 158,072 |
| Kishanganj | 145,668 |
| Purnia | 273,920 |
| Katihar | 184,254 |
| Madhepura | 98,076 |
| Saharsa | 131,596 |
| Darbhanga | 203,315 |
| Muzaffarpur | 282,845 |
| Gopalganj | 310,363 |
| Siwan | 221,711 |
| Saran | 273,223 |
| Vaishali | 225,953 |
| Samastipur | 283,955 |
| Begusarai | 167,756 |
| Khagaria | 79,551 |
| Bhagalpur | 244,612 |
| Banka | 117,346 |
| Munger | 74,916 |
| Lakhisarai | 48,824 |
| Sheikhpura | 26,256 |
| Nalanda | 138,505 |
| Patna | 395,500 |
| Bhojpur | 190,832 |
| Buxar | 87,645 |
| Kaimur (Bhabua) | 73,940 |
| Rohtas | 156,148 |
| Arwal | 30,180 |
| Jehanabad | 53,089 |
| Aurangabad | 159,980 |
| Gaya | 245,663 |
| Nawada | 126,450 |
| Jamui | 91,882 |
These deletions reflect efforts to ensure accuracy, though some districts like Patna and East Champaran saw the highest removals.
Significance for Bihar Elections
The finalized roll sets the stage for a high-stakes poll battle between the ruling NDA (BJP-JD(U)) and the opposition INDIA bloc (RJD-Congress). Issues like youth migration, unemployment, and voter exclusions dominated pre-election discourse, with leaders like Tejashwi Yadav alleging irregularities (later refuted by ECI). The addition of young voters could influence outcomes in key constituencies.
The ECI urged all eligible citizens to confirm their enrollment promptly, emphasizing, “Every vote counts in strengthening democracy.”
