The Election Commission of India (ECI) has assured the Supreme Court that no voter in Bihar will be removed from the electoral rolls without prior notice and an opportunity to respond. The statement came in a fresh affidavit filed in connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the poll-bound state.
The poll body said it would strictly follow the principles of natural justice during the revision process. “No deletion from the draft electoral roll, published on August 1, 2025, will take place without issuing prior notice to the concerned elector, explaining the proposed deletion and the reasons, allowing them to present their case, and passing a reasoned order,” the affidavit stated.
The voter list revision has sparked controversy, with Opposition parties alleging that it could disenfranchise large numbers of legitimate voters, especially from marginalised groups, through rigid and arbitrary documentation rules. The Election Commission has rejected these claims, saying it is taking all necessary measures to ensure that no eligible voter is left out.
According to the ECI, a two-tier appeal system is in place for anyone facing deletion from the rolls. Vulnerable voters without documents will be assisted in obtaining them. Out of 7.89 crore registered voters in Bihar, over 7.24 crore have already submitted their enumeration forms, the commission said.
To ensure transparency, printed and digital copies of the draft electoral roll have been shared with political parties, and the public can access them online. The scrutiny period runs from August 1 to September 1.
The ECI outlined its outreach efforts, which include repeated visits by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), awareness campaigns via SMS, public meetings, and advertisements in 246 Hindi newspapers targeting temporary migrants from Bihar. Special urban camps have also been held in all 261 urban local bodies.
The Commission is also accepting advance applications from young voters who will turn 18 on or before October 1, with special drives planned during the claims and objections period.
The SIR, the ECI said, is a standard exercise to maintain the accuracy of electoral rolls by removing the names of deceased, duplicate, or permanently relocated voters. The Bihar Legislative Assembly elections for all 243 constituencies are expected in October or November 2025.
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