The Election Commission of India on Tuesday released the final voter list for the Bihar Assembly elections, following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The final voter list showed an increase in the number of registered voters compared to the draft list.
According to the updated figures, the total number of voters in Patna district now stands at 48,15,294. The draft voter list, issued on August 1, 2025, recorded 46,51,694 voters. Following a month-long claims and objections process, Patna district witnessed a net increase of 1,63,600 voters in the final list.
During a press conference, officials from the poll body also announced that voters can now check their details on the Election Commission’s official website. The assembly elections in the state will be conducted on the basis of this roll.
The release marks a key step ahead of the poll schedule announcement, which is expected between October 6 and 7. The SIR exercise, conducted in Bihar after a gap of 22 years, has been at the centre of both political and legal debate.
The draft electoral rolls were published on August 1 and kept open for claims and objections until September 1.
Before the process began, Bihar had 7.89 crore voters.
The draft list showed 7.24 crore, with 65.63 lakh names deleted.
Following the draft publication, 3 lakh voters were issued notices.
During the claims and objections period, 2.17 lakh people applied to have their names removed, while 16.93 lakh applied for inclusion.
Between August 1 and September 1 alone, over 16.56 lakh voters submitted Form-6 for new registrations.
Nearly 36,000 more sought inclusion, while over 2.17 lakh requested deletions during the objection phase
The disposal of applications received between September 1 and 30 will take place from October 1 onwards.
Under the rules, voters can still apply for inclusion up to 10 days before the last date of nomination.
Their names will appear in a supplementary list, and they will be added to the regular rolls for subsequent elections.
The exercise has been sharply criticised by Opposition parties, who have accused the Commission of attempting mass disenfranchisement, especially targeting poor and minority voters. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged collusion between the poll body and the BJP, citing data from several districts. He, along with RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, has led a “Voter Adhikar Yatra” in Bihar, calling the SIR a “vote theft” operation.
The matter also reached the Supreme Court, where petitioners warned that the revision could strip lakhs of voters of their rights. Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi observed that they would not hesitate to scrap the voter rolls if irregularities were found. They also emphasised “en masse inclusion” over “en masse exclusion,” while permitting Aadhaar as a valid document despite the EC’s concerns about forgery. The next hearing is scheduled for October 7.
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr SS Sandhu and Vineet Joshi, will visit Bihar on October 4-5 to review poll arrangements. The team is expected to meet political parties, state officials and civil society representatives. Ahead of that, a meeting of poll observers is scheduled in Delhi on October 3.
The current Bihar Assembly’s term ends on November 22. With the final voter list out today and the EC’s Bihar review visit lined up, sources suggest the election schedule could be announced as early as October 6 or 7.
