Amid political debates surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Friday that the first phase of household visits across Bihar has been successfully completed. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have already covered nearly 1.5 crore households under this extensive verification process aimed at updating and refining the voter list.
According to the latest update, as of July 2, 2025, over 6.86 crore Enumeration Forms have been distributed—accounting for more than 87% of the 7.90 crore registered electors in the State, based on records updated till June 24. However, certain households could not be reached due to a range of reasons such as locked premises, migration, death of electors, or the dwellers being temporarily away. The ECI has clarified that BLOs are mandated to revisit each household up to three times, so the current coverage figures are likely to improve.
In a move to enhance accessibility, partially filled Enumeration Forms can now be downloaded from the ECI portal (https://voters.eci.gov.in) and the ECINET App. Voters can also fill out and submit these forms directly via the app, facilitating easier participation in the revision process.
Political engagement has significantly contributed to the process, with a total of 1,54,977 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from various parties actively supporting the BLOs. Among them, the BJP has deployed 52,689 BLAs, followed by RJD with 47,504, JD(U) with 34,669, and INC with 16,500. Smaller parties like CPI(ML) and LJP (Ram Vilas) have also contributed to the revision exercise. Each BLA is permitted to submit up to 50 certified forms per day, ensuring streamlined assistance.
So far, nearly 38 lakh signed forms—about 5% of the total—have already been submitted, reflecting early voter responsiveness. The Commission reiterated its “Inclusion First” motto and urged all eligible voters to sign and submit their forms by July 25, 2025. The Draft Electoral Roll is scheduled to be published on August 1, 2025.
Simultaneous verification of submitted forms is currently underway. Following the publication of the Draft Rolls, the period for filing claims and objections will begin on August 2 and continue until the final publication of the Electoral Rolls on September 30, 2025. Appeals regarding entries in the rolls can then be made to the District Magistrate or the Chief Electoral Officer.
Despite concerns raised by certain sections, the ECI has assured that the SIR is designed to ensure inclusion of all eligible citizens. Each submitted Enumeration Form, with or without attached documents, will be individually verified for eligibility. The final verification will intensify from August 2 onwards to maintain accuracy and transparency in the electoral rolls. This revision is part of a broader effort by the ECI to enhance voter registration, accuracy, and transparency in preparation for upcoming elections.
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