Opposition MPs Demand Urgent Discussion on Bihar Voter Roll Revision

Concerns Raised Over Voter Roll Revision in Bihar

A group of Opposition Members of Parliament reached out to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday, requesting an immediate special session to discuss the ongoing revision of voter rolls in Bihar.

The MPs conveyed their serious worries regarding the timing of this revision, which coincides with the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. They emphasized that changes to the electoral rolls directly affect the right to vote and the integrity of elections.

Among those who signed the letter were Gaurav Gogoi, the Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Supriya Sule from the Nationalist Congress Party, and Aravind Sawant from Shiv Sena.

The MPs pointed out that the Election Commission has suggested that similar revisions might soon occur in other regions of the country. They expressed that the current situation raises significant concerns about transparency, timing, and the intentions behind the process, warranting urgent attention from the House.

This letter was sent on the same day the Election Commission released the draft voter roll for Bihar, following the completion of a special intensive revision exercise. The final voter roll is expected to be published on September 30.

The Election Commission stated that the revision process encompassed all 243 Assembly constituencies and involved 90,817 polling stations, with the draft rolls shared with political parties.

The initiative for revising the electoral rolls in Bihar was announced by the Election Commission on June 24.

As part of this process, individuals whose names were absent from the 2003 voter list must provide proof of their eligibility to vote. This requirement affects approximately 2.9 crore out of the state's 7.8 crore voters, which translates to about 37% of the electorate needing to submit documentation.

Voters born before July 1, 1987, are required to present proof of their date and place of birth, while those born between July 1, 1987, and December 2, 2004, must provide documents verifying the date and place of birth of at least one parent. For individuals born after December 2, 2004, proof of date of birth for themselves and both parents is necessary.

If electoral registration officers find the provided information satisfactory, voters will be re-enrolled in a new voter list. Conversely, those who do not meet the requirements will be removed from the voter lists.

Potential Exclusion of 65 Lakh Names from Draft Rolls

On July 28, the Election Commission reported that 91.6% of electors in Bihar had submitted their enumeration forms for the special intensive revision by the end of the first phase of the exercise.

More than 7.2 crore out of the state's 7.8 crore electors participated by submitting their forms, indicating a strong turnout.

This suggests that approximately 65 lakh names from the July 2025 list may not appear in the draft rolls.

With the draft rolls now available, electors have a month to file claims and objections, allowing eligible voters to be added while ineligible names can be removed.

During this period, voters who believe their names were incorrectly removed can seek assistance from the appropriate authorities for resolution.

Also read: Bihar voter roll revision: Why having to prove you are an Indian citizen is a nightmare