The Election Commission of India (ECI) has revealed that 52 lakh names have been deleted from Bihar’s voter list during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The names have been removed due to reasons such as death, duplication, or migration, the Commission stated on Tuesday.

The poll body assured that all eligible voters will be included in the draft electoral roll, which is set to be published on August 1. A one-month window from August 1 to September 1 will allow the public to file objections, request corrections, and submit new claims.Breakdown of 52 Lakh Deletions

The Commission released a note titled "Facts revealed from Bihar SIR so far", highlighting the following:

• 18 lakh electors found to be deceased

• 26 lakh electors shifted to other constituencies

• 7 lakh electors detected with duplicate entries in multiple locations

Opposition Concerns and EC’s Assurance

The mass deletions have sparked criticism from opposition parties, who have alleged politically motivated voter suppression. The matter is currently under judicial review.

In response, the Commission reiterated that the revision process is lawful, inclusive, and transparent, and conducted under its constitutional mandate as per Article 324. The EC emphasised that all individuals who submitted enumeration forms—regardless of supporting documents—will be included in the August 1 draft roll.

Moreover, new voters can continue to enroll until the last date for filing nominations for the upcoming elections.

Important Dates

• Draft Electoral Roll Release: August 1, 2025

• Objection/Correction Period: August 1 – September 1, 2025

• Final Electoral Roll Publication: September 30, 2025

Massive Voter Verification Drive in Bihar

Highlighting the scale of the operation, the Commission said the SIR involves:

• 1 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs)

• 4 lakh volunteers

• 1.5 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from all 12 major political parties

These teams are working across constituencies to verify addresses and gather pending enumeration forms.

Legal Defense

Defending its actions in court, the EC said the SIR is a “constitutionally obligated and jurisdictionally sound” exercise. The Commission also noted that it is coordinating closely with all political stakeholders to ensure no eligible voter is left out.