The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar is progressing as planned, with an overwhelming 98.2% of voter documents already collected. This comes amid heightened political debate over the process, yet the poll body maintains that the exercise is on schedule and heading toward timely completion.
According to official data released on Sunday, August 24, 2025, the ECI confirmed that out of Bihar’s total 7.24 crore registered electors, documents have been received from almost the entire voter base within just 60 days. This leaves only 1.8% of electors who are yet to provide their eligibility documents. With eight days still remaining for claims and objections, officials expect this gap to narrow further before the deadline.
The Commission explained that, on average, 1.64% of electors submitted their documents per day during the enumeration phase. This steady pace, it said, demonstrates strong public participation in the process of updating the electoral rolls. At the same time, citizens who noticed discrepancies or omissions in the draft rolls—published earlier on August 1—still have the chance to submit corrections or objections until the final cut-off date.
The final verification stage will now fall under the responsibility of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs). They will closely examine the documents provided, validate eligibility, and resolve disputes or claims raised by voters. The Commission has assured that this verification will be finished by September 25. Once completed, the final electoral roll for Bihar will be officially published on September 30.
This latest update from the ECI comes as the opposition continues to express concerns over the SIR exercise. Parties have questioned the transparency of the deletions and additions, particularly citing higher reported deletions among women voters in certain districts. However, the Commission has stressed that the process is being carried out meticulously, with due diligence and complete accountability, to ensure that every eligible voter’s name is accurately reflected in the rolls.
The Special Intensive Revision is part of the ECI’s wider strategy to strengthen the electoral process in Bihar ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. By ensuring maximum voter participation and minimizing inaccuracies, the poll body aims to deliver a more robust and transparent democratic exercise. The importance of this exercise is underscored by Bihar’s sheer voter size, with over 7 crore electors making it one of the largest states in terms of electoral strength.
With over 98% of documents already received and the final verification underway, the Election Commission appears confident about meeting its schedule. The weeks ahead will determine how effectively the last segment of voters responds to the call for document submission and how successfully the authorities can resolve claims and objections. If completed as planned, the SIR 2025 in Bihar could set an example of efficient voter roll management for other states preparing for elections.
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