A political firestorm has erupted in Bihar over its recently revised electoral rolls. Critics allege that the Election Commission’s (EC) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) failed to catch fake voters, duplicate registrations, and dubious addresses — while the EC counters these claims, saying the exercise was needed to purge ineligible entries and make the voter registry more accurate. Here, we unpack the controversy, the data, and what’s at stake.
What Is the SIR and Why It Matters
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a targeted effort by the EC to update and clean voter lists. It involves door-to-door enumeration, verification of proof of address, and a claims-and-objections window. In Bihar, this SIR was launched to correct suspected inflation in the electoral rolls — such as deceased voters not removed, duplicates, or ghost entries — before a high-stakes assembly election.
The Big Numbers: What the EC Says
According to official data released by the Election Commission:
- Bihar’s final voter list after SIR shows around 7.42 crore electors.
- Around 65 lakh names were removed in the draft roll.
- Another 3.66 lakh “ineligible” voters were removed after claims & objections.
- Around 21.53 lakh new voters were added.
- In total, roughly 47 lakh names were deleted from the earlier electoral roll.
Allegations & Red Flags Raised by Critics
Despite EC's defence, a number of serious allegations have surfaced:
1. Missing Voters Marked “Not Traceable”
About 11,000 electors could not be located during field verification. In several cases, no house existed at the registered address, raising suspicions of bogus entries or unverified registrations.
2. Large-Scale Deletions
Over 65 lakh deletions in the draft roll and 3.66 lakh more in objections have triggered concerns. Critics argue that some legitimate voters, including marginalized communities, may have been removed unfairly.
3. Duplicate Voter IDs & Ghost Addresses
Investigations revealed lakhs of suspected duplicate voter entries. Some addresses reportedly had hundreds of voters registered under a single household, raising questions about verification quality.
4. Alleged Sidestepping of Verification Software
It is alleged that the EC did not use its de-duplication module during SIR. The system, which detects voter duplication using name, age, address and photo, was reportedly not deployed fully in Bihar’s revision.
5. Alleged Political Bias
Opposition parties argue that voter deletions were not uniform and might disproportionately affect particular regions or sections. Some parties claim the process was politically influenced, though no formal proof has been established.
EC’s Counter-Arguments & Defense
The Election Commission maintains that:
- All deletions were made only after field verification.
- The SIR aimed to clean inflated rolls and remove deceased, migrated or duplicated voters.
- “Not traceable” status does not equal fraud; it only flags entries for further review.
- A legal appeal mechanism exists for any voter who believes their name was wrongly deleted.
- The focus of SIR was physical verification and documentation, not batch software checks.
Implications for Democracy & the Election
The controversy strikes at the core of electoral integrity. If SIR has strengthened and cleaned the voter database, Bihar’s elections may benefit from greater accuracy. However, if allegations of fake voters, duplicate IDs, and wrongful deletions hold true, trust in the democratic process could be undermined. With many seats historically decided by narrow margins, even a small degree of irregularity could impact outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What does “not traceable” mean?
It means election officers could not find a voter at their registered address. This could be due to migration, incorrect addresses, or potentially fraudulent entries. It does not automatically imply wrongdoing but flags the entry for deeper verification.
2. Could “not traceable” voters be illegal immigrants?
Some officials speculate that a fraction of these entries may have originated from weak verification processes, but there is no confirmed evidence that all such cases involve illegal immigrants.
3. How many names were deleted during the SIR?
Around 65 lakh names were removed in the draft roll, followed by approximately 3.66 lakh during the claims and objections phase — a total of over 68 lakh names flagged or removed.
4. How many new voters were added?
Approximately 21.53 lakh new voters were added after SIR, contributing to the final total of around 7.42 crore electors in Bihar.
5. What verification software was reportedly not used?
The EC’s dedicated de-duplication module — part of its ERONET system — designed to flag potential duplicate entries based on biometric and demographic patterns.
6. How many suspected duplicate entries exist?
Investigations indicate that around 14 lakh entries exhibit duplication patterns, including many that match across age, name, and relative details.
7. Are there voters registered at fake or overcrowded addresses?
Reports claim cases of hundreds of voters assigned to a single house or non-existent addresses, indicating potential loopholes in field verification.
8. Can a deleted voter restore their name?
Yes. Any voter can file an appeal with the District Magistrate or the State’s Chief Electoral Officer under the Representation of the People Act to restore their entry.
9. Which political parties have raised objections?
Opposition parties including CPI(ML) and TMC have highlighted anomalies, alleging that the scale of deletions could disadvantage certain communities or regions.
10. Can these discrepancies affect the election outcome?
Potentially yes. If significant numbers of voters are unable to participate due to wrongful deletions or if fraudulent entries remain, it could impact closely contested seats and shake public confidence.
Conclusion
The Bihar voter-list controversy underscores the importance of robust verification, transparent processes, and accountable institutions. While the EC defends SIR as a necessary step to clean inflated rolls, doubts persist regarding duplicate entries, fake voters, and large-scale deletions. As Bihar prepares for elections, restoring public trust in the voter list will be crucial to ensuring a fair and credible democratic exercise.
Report by Toofan Express