The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday published the final electoral roll for Bihar, confirming a total of 7.42 crore voters. This figure represents a massive reduction of more than 47 lakh electors since the beginning of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in June, an effort that has triggered a significant political and legal controversy ahead of the state's impending Assembly elections.
While the final number is higher than the draft roll published in August (7.24 crore), it confirms the overall culling of names from the voter list. The draft roll itself had seen the removal of 65 lakh names initially identified as absent, shifted, or deceased.
Bihar Final Voter List: Check Link, Steps To Follow To Access PDF
- Click here to access the ECI website, where the list is available for download.
- Users can access the final roll by entering details such as the state, district, assembly constituency, and roll type.
- To view the updated records, “Bihar Final Roll 2025” must be selected, followed by captcha verification and choosing the relevant area within the assembly seat.
A screenshot of the webpage to access the final Bihar voter list.
- The consolidated PDF shows voters included on the list and marks deletions as ‘Deleted’.
During the subsequent claims and objections phase, the Election Commission's machinery added a significant number of newly eligible voters back to the list.
According to a statement from the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar, 21.53 lakh eligible voters, whose names had been omitted from the draft roll, were successfully added since its publication on 1st August. Conversely, a further 3.66 lakh voters who were present in the draft list were deleted during the same period of scrutiny. The ECI did not, however, "specify the grounds on which names in the draft roll were found to be of ayogya (ineligible) electors" by the time the final list was released.
Patna Sees Addition Of 1,63 Lakh Voters
Meanwhile, the Patna district administration reported an increase in its jurisdiction. Its statement noted that the total number of voters across the 14 assembly segments under its remit now stands at 48.15 lakh, an increase of 1.63 lakh compared to the draft electoral rolls of 1st August. The district also specified that it has 22.75 lakh female voters, with the Digha constituency possessing the highest count of 4.56 lakh electors.
District Administration of Patna stated on X, "In light of the directives of the Election Commission India, the final publication of the voter list for all 14 Assembly constituencies in Patna district was out today under the Intensive Revision Campaign, 2025, based on the eligibility date of 01.07.2025. According to this, the total number of electors is 48,15,294, which is 1,63,600 more than the total number of electors, 46,51,694, included in the draft list published on 01 August 2025."
ECI to Visit Patna to Review Preparations, Bihar Election Schedule Expected Next Week
Sources told PTI that the Commission will visit Patna on 4 and 5 October to review election readiness in the state. Ahead of this visit, a briefing for general, police, and expenditure observers has been scheduled in the capital on 3 October. In total, 470 observers will be deployed for the Bihar elections and select assembly bypolls.
The poll schedule is expected to be declared next week, with the first phase likely to follow the Chhath festival in late October. The term of the current 243-member Bihar Assembly concludes on 22 November.
Political Uproar Over Bihar SIR Exercise
The mammoth Special Intensive Revision exercise, which the ECI plans to implement nationwide eventually, has generated considerable controversy in the poll-bound state. The Opposition, including the INDIA bloc, has repeatedly questioned the timing and scope of the revision.
The publication of the final roll drew immediate political reactions, with the ruling Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) welcoming the outcome as vindication of the SIR exercise.
JD(U) spokesperson, Neeraj Kumar, reacted sharply to the Opposition's earlier accusations of foul play. “The vote theft propaganda of the corrupt opposition, led by Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, now stands exposed,” he stated, as per news agency PTI. He went on to argue that the large number of fresh names added to the final list refutes the charges of deliberate deletion, noting, “And, it is well known that a majority of voters in the state belong to deprived castes or religious minorities.”
The BJP, the JD(U)'s key ally, has maintained that the SIR was essential to "flush out infiltrators" whom the INDIA bloc allegedly wished to "protect and give voting rights," a claim asserted by leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Opposition Vows 'Fight to the Finish' Over Deletions
In the Opposition camp, the Congress party reiterated its deep mistrust of the entire revision process, focusing on the sheer volume of deletions.
State Congress president Rajesh Kumar voiced serious concerns about the initial number of deletions (65 lakh) remaining substantially higher than the total additions in the final roll. Alleging that the "credibility and impartiality of the EC remains doubtful," the Congress leader warned, “The issues concerning SIR are far from over. We are ready for a fight to the finish.”
Several Opposition parties have moved the Supreme Court, alleging that the revision was designed for the “wrongful deletion of names of voters who were less likely to vote for the ruling BJP-led NDA.” As Assembly elections are expected to be announced soon, the electoral roll controversy is set to dominate the political narrative.