Amid Opposition's Uproar Over Bihar Electoral Roll Revision, EC Set To Launch Nationwide Voter List Overhaul Exercise

Amid intensifying protests by the Opposition over the electoral roll revision in Bihar, the Election Commission (EC) has announced that a nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls will soon be launched, the Times of India reported.

The order, issued on 24 June, states that the revision will be undertaken across all states, with a detailed schedule to follow.

“The Commission has now decided to begin the Special Intensive Revision in the entire country for the discharge of its constitutional mandate to protect the integrity of electoral rolls,” the EC said in a statement.

The EC clarified that the exercise is being conducted under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.

The aim is to clean the electoral rolls by identifying and removing deceased, duplicate, or migrated voters.

The Commission stressed, “Maintaining the integrity of the electoral roll is fundamental for the conduct of free and fair elections...the electoral machinery, eligibility conditions, manner and procedure for preparation of electoral rolls are provided under the RPA 1950 and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.”

The move, however, has triggered sharp political backlash in Bihar, where an SIR exercise has already revealed 18 lakh deceased, 26 lakh shifted, and 7 lakh duplicate entries in the voter rolls.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has accused the EC of targeting Opposition-held areas and reportedly hinted at boycotting the upcoming assembly elections.

The issue has spilled into Parliament, causing four consecutive days of disruptions during the ongoing monsoon session.

Amid the uproar, the EC clarified that migrants won’t be disqualified, and descendants of 2003-registered voters don’t need to prove ancestry.

It also stated in an affidavit that Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards are used solely for identity verification, not to establish citizenship.

The matter is currently under Supreme Court review, with the next hearing scheduled for 28 July.

Also Read: Bihar Voter List Overhaul Begins: EC Orders 'Special Intensive Revision' Citing Migration, Urbanisation, And Inclusion Of Foreigners