ECI’s Special Electoral Roll Revision Underway in Bihar with Full Transparency

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched an intensive, multi-phase Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Electoral Roll in Bihar, with the aim of ensuring that every eligible citizen is registered and that the voter list is accurate, inclusive, and transparent. The Commission, under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi, recently met with representatives of 11 major political parties at Nirvachan Sadan, New Delhi, to explain the process and address their concerns.

Key Political Stakeholders Engage in Dialogue

Leaders from political parties including the Indian National Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, Communist Party of India, and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) participated in the discussions. The ECI clarified the methodology and timelines of the SIR while inviting more active participation from political parties through the appointment of Booth Level Agents (BLAs).

Phased Rollout of Electoral Revision

The SIR in Bihar follows a structured five-phase model, designed to uphold both efficiency and accountability. With 7.90 crore electors in the state, this is one of the largest democratic exercises being undertaken in the country ahead of upcoming elections.

Phase 1: Enumeration Form (EF) Distribution (June 25 – July 3, 2025)

The first step involves printing and distributing Enumeration Forms to all electors whose names exist on the Electoral Roll as of June 24, 2025. A total of 77,895 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are already deployed for this task, with an additional 20,603 BLOs being appointed to ensure complete outreach.

• Partially pre-filled forms are generated based on records as on June 23, 2025.

• Forms are also downloadable from the ECI portal voters.eci.gov.in.

• Recognized political parties can submit up to 50 certified forms per day through their appointed BLAs.

Phase 2: Form Submission and Support (Until July 25, 2025)

Electors must fill and submit the Enumeration Forms by July 25. To support this effort:

• Around 4 lakh volunteers, including government officials, NCC/NSS cadets, and other support personnel, are assisting with submissions.

• Priority assistance is provided for elderly citizens, PwDs, sick individuals, the poor, and vulnerable populations.

Document requirements vary by birthdate:

• Born before July 1, 1987: Self-documentation

• Born between July 1, 1987 – Dec 2, 2004: Own and one parent’s documents

• Born after Dec 2, 2004: Self and both parents’ documents

• If parents’ names appear in the 2003 electoral roll, no parental documents are required.

Phase 3: Form Collection and Digital Upload (June 25 – July 26, 2025)

BLOs will:

• Collect filled forms and documents door-to-door.

• Issue acknowledgment receipts to each elector.

• Upload data via the BLO App/ECINET system daily.

• Submit physical forms to EROs or AEROs.

An online submission portal has also been activated to facilitate electronic submissions for tech-savvy or urban voters.

Phase 4: Draft Electoral Roll Publication (August 1, 2025)

The Draft Roll will include only the names of electors who submitted their forms by July 25.

• No form submission = name exclusion from the draft.

• Draft Rolls will be available free of cost to political parties and also published online.

• Those who miss the deadline can still apply during the claims and objections period using Form 6.

Recognized parties may continue submitting up to 10 forms daily after the Draft publication.

Phase 5: Claims and Objections (August 1 – September 1, 2025)

During this month-long window:

• Citizens can file for inclusion or object to existing entries.

• No deletion will be done without due inquiry and a fair hearing.

• Applications will be scrutinized as per Article 326 of the Constitution and Sections 16 and 19 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.

• Daily updates will be posted at ERO offices and on the CEO Bihar website.

• Weekly updates will be shared with political parties.

Final Publication and Appeals

The Final Electoral Roll will be published on September 30, 2025, in both hard and digital formats, made freely available to all recognized political parties and voters.

Electors who feel aggrieved by the ERO’s decisions can:

• Appeal to the District Magistrate under Section 24(a) within 15 days.

• Further appeal to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) under Section 24(b) within 30 days if dissatisfied.

Transparency, Technology, and Participation

CEC Gyanesh Kumar has encouraged political parties to ramp up efforts in appointing BLAs, which now number 1,54,977 in Bihar, and work closely with the ECI to ensure inclusiveness. He reiterated that transparency and participatory mechanisms are at the heart of this revision.

The Election Commission has integrated technology, documentation simplification, and community mobilization to make this exercise smooth and inclusive. The active involvement of civil society, volunteers, and the political class will be crucial in ensuring that no eligible voter is left behind.

The Special Electoral Roll Revision in Bihar is one of the most extensive and technologically enabled revision exercises in India. With a population exceeding 125 million, the success of this initiative will set the standard for other states.

The ECI calls upon all citizens, especially youth and first-time voters, to participate actively in this democratic process and secure their place in India’s electoral system.