EC to release Bihar draft rolls Friday.

EC to release Bihar draft rolls Friday.

During this period, eligible voters can file claims to include their names in the list or raise objections if any discrepancies are found. This entire process is scheduled to continue until September 1, allowing ample time for corrections and ensuring accuracy in the final electoral rolls.

EC to Release Bihar Draft Rolls Friday Amid Concerns, Protests
Claims and Objections Phase to Run Till September 1

This follows the completion of a month-long Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which aimed to update and verify the state’s voter database.

During this period, voters who find discrepancies—such as wrongful deletion of names—can approach the authorities to get their issues addressed. The process is meant to ensure that all eligible citizens are accurately reflected in the rolls before the elections.

Concerns over Mass Deletion

The exercise, however, hasn’t been without controversy. The opposition has raised strong objections to the SIR process, claiming that it could lead to large-scale voter disenfranchisement.

By the time the enumeration process ended on July 25, around 7.23 crore voters had submitted their filled-in enumeration forms, either physically or online. However, nearly 70 lakh names are now in question.

According to official figures, 35 lakh voters were found to have either permanently migrated or were untraceable during the verification. Another 22 lakh voters were reported to be deceased, and an additional seven lakh names were identified as duplicates—individuals registered in more than one location. Moreover, 1.2 lakh voters did not submit the enumeration forms at all, leaving their status uncertain.

Enumeration: A Double-Edged Sword?

In the first stage of the SIR, the EC distributed enumeration forms through booth-level officers (BLOs) and agents (BLAs) from political parties. Voters were instructed to fill, sign, and submit the forms along with proof of identity. The process could also be completed online—an effort to increase accessibility. However, despite these steps, critics argue that the exercise lacked adequate oversight and transparency.

Political leaders, including CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, have expressed apprehension over the EC’s conduct. Bhattacharya, who is also a petitioner in the Supreme Court on the issue, warned that the real manipulation could happen during the claims and objections phase.

“The fear is that the deletion of names has already been engineered, and now the claims and objections phase will be used selectively to deny reinstatement,” he said in a recent statement.

Tejashwi Threatens Boycott

Adding fuel to the political fire, Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav recently created ripples by threatening to boycott the upcoming elections altogether if the EC fails to address concerns in a fair and transparent manner. “We won’t participate in a process where lakhs of voters are disenfranchised without explanation,” he warned.

Yadav’s statement resonated with many in the opposition who view the current electoral roll revision as skewed in favor of the ruling regime. “This is not just about data—it’s about democracy,” a senior RJD leader commented.

EC’s Reassurance

Meanwhile, the Election Commission insists that the process is being carried out impartially and in accordance with the law. “Every voter who has been wrongly removed will have the opportunity to be reinstated.

Still, with nearly 70 lakh names affected and political temperatures rising, the EC faces a tough road ahead in convincing all stakeholders that the process is both fair and inclusive.

The next few weeks, leading up to September 1, will be critical—not just for Bihar’s voters, but for the democratic credibility of the entire electoral process.