"Over 65 Lakh Voters Missing from Bihar Draft Electoral Roll in Patna and Three Other Districts"

In a major development ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections 2025, the Election Commission (EC) has revealed that over 65 lakh voters are missing from the newly released draft electoral rolls. These rolls were prepared during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, which aims to clean and update voter records. Massive Drop in Voter Count: From 7.9 Crore to 7.24 Crore According to data released on Friday, the total number of registered voters in Bihar has dropped from approximately 7.9 crore to 7.24 crore following the SIR exercise. This significant reduction has raised concerns ahead of the state elections. Patna, the state capital, recorded the highest number of missing voters with 3.95 lakh names not included in the draft roll. The other major districts with a high number of omissions include: Madhubani: 3.52 lakh missing voters East Champaran: 3.16 lakh missing voters Gopalganj: 3.10 lakh missing voters Together, East Champaran, Madhubani, and Gopalganj account for nearly 3 lakh exclusions from the updated draft electoral roll. Reasons for Voter Name Deletions The Election Commission clarified the reasons behind the removals: 22.34 lakh voters have passed away 36.28 lakh have permanently moved or were not found at their registered addresses 7.01 lakh were found to be registered in more than one location Claims and Objections Open Until September 1 The EC has now launched the "claims and objections" process, giving voters an opportunity to correct any errors or omissions in the draft list. This process will remain open until September 1, 2025. Eligible voters who find their names missing can approach the relevant electoral offices to have their names restored. Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 Ahead With the Bihar Assembly Elections scheduled later this year, the draft voter list and ongoing revision process will play a crucial role in ensuring a transparent and accurate electoral roll.

NEWS