Published on: August 17, 2025 at 23:01
When 65 Lakh Voters Vanish: Bihar’s Deleted List Explained – In a shocking update, the Election Commission has removed 65 lakh names from Bihar’s draft voter list. Ordered by the Supreme Court, the deletions—due to death, migration, or duplicates—have raised urgent questions about voter rights and election transparency. Millions are now checking if their names still exist, making this one of the state’s most talked-about electoral developments.
Why 65 Lakh Names Disappeared: Understanding the Deletions
The Election Commission of India (ECI) conducted a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s voter rolls ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections. The draft voter list published on August 1 shows approximately 65.6 lakh fewer voters, shrinking the electoral roll from around 7.9 crore to 7.24 crore.
According to official ECI data:
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22 lakh were marked deceased,
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36 lakh had permanently migrated or were not traceable,
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7 lakh were found as duplicate enrollments.
This data highlights administrative cleaning—but such a sweeping change naturally raises questions around transparency and fairness.
Also Read: Affidavit or Apology? CEC’s Tough Ultimatum to Rahul Gandhi on ‘Vote Chori’
Supreme Court’s Mandate: Full Disclosure for Democracy
On August 14, 2025, the Supreme Court of India, led by Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, ordered the EC to:
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Publish a district- and booth-level searchable list of the 65 lakh excluded names, clearly stating reasons like death, migration, or duplication.
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Ensure this list is available online and prominently displayed at panchayat offices, district election offices, and through mass media in vernacular and English press, radio, and TV.
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Permit affected citizens to file claims using Aadhaar or EPIC (Voter ID) for re-inclusion.
This directive, mandated by the apex court, seeks to uphold democratic values and restore voter confidence.
Voices & Reactions: From Transparency to Controversy
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EC’s Position: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar emphasized the move was about maintaining accuracy, transparency, and preventing disenfranchisement—even completing the listing within 56 hours of the Court’s directive.
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Opposition Allegations: Parties like CPI-ML and Congress have called the SIR exercise a threat to democratic rights. CPI-ML dubbed it the “biggest attack on the Constitution,” claiming marginalised voters were excluded, and demanded justification for deletions.
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Political Tensions: Rahul Gandhi accused the EC of “vote theft,” linking the exclusion in Bihar to additions in Maharashtra, hinting at a political motive.
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Global Concern: The Washington Post warned that rushed roll revision may disenfranchise the poor and marginalized, especially those lacking required documents or awareness
The deletion of 65 lakh voters from Bihar’s draft electoral roll sparked a democratic stir—but also led to an important judicial push for transparency. The Supreme Court’s direction to disclose deletion reasons and enable claims is a critical check on administration. As citizens, staying vigilant and empowered with documents like Aadhaar or EPIC can safeguard our participation in India’s democracy.