Bihar: In a significant step toward easing electoral verification processes, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has uploaded the 2003 Electoral Roll of Bihar, covering 4.96 crore electors, to its official portal https://voters.eci.gov.in. This decision is set to vastly facilitate the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state, reducing documentation burdens on a majority of voters.
📋 No Additional Documents Needed for 60% of Bihar’s Electorate
The updated guidelines issued on June 24, 2025, in Para 5 of ECI’s instructions, clearly state that Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), District Electoral Officers (DEOs), and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) must make the 2003 Electoral Rolls available to all Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in both hard copy and digital formats.
This means that approximately 60% of Bihar’s electorate—those who already appear in the 2003 rolls—will not be required to submit any documents. Instead, they need only verify their names and submit the filled Enumeration Form. This user-friendly reform significantly lightens the workload for both voters and BLOs.
👨👩👧 Children Can Use Parent Data from 2003 Roll
In a further simplification, individuals whose names are not listed in the 2003 Electoral Roll but whose parents’ names are, will not need to furnish any new documents for their parents. A simple extract of the 2003 Roll will suffice. Such applicants must submit supporting documents only for themselves along with the filled-up Enumeration Form.
📅 Legal Mandate for Regular Electoral Roll Revision
The ECI reiterated that, under Section 21(2)(a) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and Rule 25 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, every election cycle mandates an updated revision of electoral rolls. This process—whether intensive or summary—has been consistently conducted by the Commission for the past 75 years.
🔄 Electoral Roll: A Living Document
Highlighting the dynamic nature of the Electoral Roll, the ECI noted that periodic updates are crucial due to:
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Deaths and removals
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Migration (for education, employment, or marriage)
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New eligible voters turning 18
As such, the SIR serves as a comprehensive update mechanism to ensure that electoral data reflects ground realities.
🇮🇳 Voter Eligibility as per Article 326
According to Article 326 of the Indian Constitution, the right to vote is conferred upon all Indian citizens aged 18 and above, who are ordinary residents of their constituency. This foundational principle underscores the importance of accurate and accessible electoral rolls.
📢 Conclusion: Tech-Driven Transparency and Inclusion
By making the 2003 Bihar Electoral Roll available online, the ECI has taken a major step toward increasing electoral transparency, reducing voter inconvenience, and enhancing democratic participation. As the SIR progresses, this move is expected to encourage wider and easier enrollment of eligible citizens, especially the youth, into the electoral framework.
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