Patna: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday released the names of 65 lakh voters who have been removed from the draft electoral rolls as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar. The move comes against the backdrop of a Supreme Court directive requiring the Commission to make the deletions public by August 19 and to file a compliance report with the court by August 22.
According to officials, the deleted names fall under the ‘ASD’ category — Absentee, Shifted, and Dead voters. These lists are being published booth-wise across the state, with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar confirming that ASD lists have already been displayed in several districts including Rohtas, Begusarai, and Arwal.
Supreme Court Push for Transparency
The Supreme Court, hearing petitions on alleged large-scale voter deletions in Bihar, had directed the ECI to ensure that citizens whose names were removed could verify the action. Civil society groups and opposition parties had raised concerns that the deletions may disproportionately impact marginalized communities, migrants, and first-time voters. The apex court underlined that transparency in the electoral process was essential to ensure free and fair elections, and hence mandated the public display and online publication of ASD voter lists.
What is Special Intensive Revision?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an extraordinary exercise undertaken by the Election Commission to clean up the electoral rolls, particularly ahead of major elections. While the standard revision of rolls takes place annually, the SIR is invoked when there are widespread complaints of inaccuracies, duplicate entries, or suspected manipulation of voter lists.
In Bihar, the SIR was initiated after concerns were raised in 2023 about inflated voter rolls in several districts. Reports suggested that the names of deceased individuals and those who had migrated out of the state continued to feature on electoral lists, raising the risk of bogus voting.
Under the current SIR exercise, officials have undertaken door-to-door verification in select constituencies. Booth-level officers (BLOs) were tasked with physically checking the status of voters, cross-verifying with Aadhaar and other government records, and flagging ASD cases.
Concerns Over Scale of Deletions
The removal of 65 lakh names — roughly 10% of Bihar’s electorate — has triggered concern among political parties. Opposition leaders argue that such a large-scale deletion, if not carefully verified, could disenfranchise genuine voters, particularly migrant workers who often move in and out of the state.
ECI officials, however, maintain that the exercise is necessary to maintain the integrity of the rolls. “The purpose is not to deny anyone their right to vote but to ensure that electoral rolls are accurate and reflect only genuine, eligible voters,” a senior ECI official said. The Commission has assured that anyone wrongly deleted will have the opportunity to reapply and have their name reinstated before the final rolls are published.
Next Steps
The ECI is expected to upload the ASD voter lists on its official portal in the coming days, making it easier for citizens to check their status. Additionally, the Commission has launched awareness campaigns urging voters to verify their names and submit claims or objections where necessary. The final electoral rolls will be prepared after these claims are settled.
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