Bihar’s ongoing Special Incentive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has been cited before the Supreme Court as having witnessed grave irregularities in respect of false recording of deceased voters as having actually filled out forms for voters. The SIR’s goal is to “ensure that no eligible citizen is left out while no ineligible person is included in the Electoral Roll.” On September 30, the final electoral roll will be made public following the resolution of claims and objections. On July 1, the enumeration process began.
Petitioners allege that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are filling up buyers’ forms and submitting them without their knowledge, and in some cases, without uploading any documents to verify the identity of the so-called appliers. This entry of falsehoods not merely raises a specter of fraud in elections but constitutes an affront to the rights of the bona fide voters, who stand to be grossly prejudiced by arbitrary deletion.
The SIR Electoral Roll: What is it?
As part of a comprehensive revision, new electoral rolls are created through house-to-house enumeration. Enumerators visit each home to list eligible voters as of a qualifying date without referencing the existing rolls.
When the ECI determines that the current rolls are inaccurate or require a complete rebuild, this is done. This typically occurs after administrative processes like constituency delimitation or before important elections.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) revealed during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral lists that over 52.3 lakh voters in the state of Bihar, which is scheduled to cast ballots, could not be found at their registered addresses.
According to the data provided by ECI, these 52.3 lakh cases, or 6.62% of Bihar’s total electorate of 7.89 crore, fall under a number of categories, including duplicate enrollments, voters who have moved permanently, deceased voters, and those who are completely untraceable.
On August 1, 2025, a draft electoral roll will be made public, and electoral rolls will be updated based on enumeration forms that have been completed. On August 1, 2025, a draft electoral roll will be made public, and electoral rolls will be updated based on enumeration forms that have been completed. By September 25, a decision about the filed claims and filled-out enumeration forms will be rendered. The final electoral roll will be added to the database on September 30, 2025.
Voter Rights at Risk Amid Lack of Oversight
Civil Society groups and opposition members have cautioned that the unchecked upload of massive data could see lakhs of legitimate voters deprived of their rights, particularly in rural or poor areas where imposture appears to prevail. There are cases where confirmations were sent to individuals who had never submitted any form at all, pointing to the magnitude of the unauthorized activity. Procedural overreach has also been levelled against the Election Commission, which has been accused of subverting the SIR process-a process that was supposed to ameliorate the voter rolls-into an unjust one deprived of transparency and the consent of the people. The petitioners have argued that the Commission’s interference into citizenship verification is a domain that straightaway lies within the Union government’s realm.
Supreme Court Demands Accountability
On hearing the allegations, the Supreme Court expressed serious concerns over the manner of working of the EC, questioning whether the SIR would have been misused to enter into the domains that extend beyond its legitimate authority. The bench had further asked for a detailed explanation of the EC’s procedure, as well as the rationale for the widespread deletions and arbitrary submission of forms. As the hearings progress, the case has set the larger national agenda on data integrity, transparency in elections, and the need for stricter safeguards in the exercise of voter verification. The imminent verdict of the court may not only affect the election in Bihar but also set a precedent for the handling of voter data in this manner across India in future rounds of revision.
