ECI Flags Major Irregularities in Bihar Voter List Ahead of Assembly Elections

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The Election Commission of India (ECI) has flagged significant discrepancies in Bihar’s electoral rolls during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive, identifying millions of ineligible or untraceable entries. The findings come as the state prepares for its upcoming assembly elections.

According to data released by the Commission, over 18 lakh deceased individuals were still listed as active voters. Additionally, 26 lakh voters were found to have shifted constituencies without updating their records, and more than 7 lakh entries were found to be duplicated. Most notably, officials could not locate 52.3 lakh voters at their registered addresses during field verification.

The SIR was launched by the ECI as part of a large-scale effort to verify and clean up the voter database, ensuring a fair and accurate electoral process in Bihar. A senior EC official confirmed that district election officers have been instructed to rectify the irregularities promptly by removing ineligible names and correcting incorrect or duplicate entries.

“These figures are part of our standard audit process. We are committed to delivering an accurate and transparent electoral roll,” the official said, emphasizing that the revision process would be completed well before the polls.

The revelation has stirred concern among political parties and voter rights groups, with some raising questions about the overall integrity of the electoral roll. Critics argue that such large-scale inaccuracies could open the door to manipulation or disenfranchisement if not resolved urgently.

Bihar is set to go to the polls later this year, and the ECI has assured all stakeholders that updated electoral rolls will be published in time to ensure clean and credible elections. The Commission also reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent electoral process, with verification measures in place to catch future discrepancies.