ECI Reports Zero Political Party Claims in Bihar Electoral Roll Draft

The Election Commission of India (ECI) reported on Monday that no claims or objections have been lodged by political parties concerning the draft electoral roll released on August 1, 2025. This period, spanning from August 1 to August 4, witnessed political parties refraining from filing claims and objections regarding the addition of eligible voters and the removal of ineligible ones. A total of 1,927 claims and objections were submitted by individual electors directly, the poll panel noted in a press release.

The ECI highlighted that under the existing regulations, claims and objections must be addressed by the respective Electoral Registration Officers (ERO) or Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AERO) after a seven-day period. It emphasized that no names from the draft list from August 1, 2025, can be eliminated without a formal speaking order issued by ERO/AERO post-investigation and providing a fair chance to the electors involved.

On Friday, the ECI unveiled the draft electoral rolls for Bihar, marking the conclusion of the Enumeration Phase under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025. The public has been granted a month to submit claims and objections, with the reassurance that no names will be omitted from the draft voter list without valid reasons. The commission revealed that approximately 1.60 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs), appointed by District Presidents of twelve political parties, were significantly engaged in the on-ground process. The revision process has sparked political debate, with the opposition INDIA bloc voicing concerns over possible mass voter deletions, noting that around 35 lakh electors were either untraceable or had permanently relocated.

The ECI facilitated electors to verify their registration using official links with their EPIC numbers, allowing them to file claims and objections online for name additions or deletions. Furthermore, in an initiative to maintain voter identity card accuracy, the ECI urged all voters to provide updated photographs to their respective Booth Level Officers (BLOs) by September 1, 2025.

(With inputs from agencies.)