Draft Electoral Rolls in Bihar Open with ‘Zero’ Claims and Objections, Says EC
Patna, August 2, 2025:
On the first day of the publication of Bihar’s draft electoral rolls, the Election Commission (EC) reported an unusual statistic: not a single claim or objection was submitted by voters across the state. Officials described the development as “unprecedented but not unexpected,” attributing it to growing voter awareness and digitised verification efforts carried out before the publication.
The draft electoral rolls, updated ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections scheduled for early next year, were released on Friday. The EC had anticipated the submission of claims—typically requests for inclusion, deletion, or correction—as well as objections challenging entries, especially in the initial days. Instead, by the end of the first day, officials confirmed receiving zero formal submissions statewide.
What the numbers mean
Senior officials at the office of Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said the data reflects changes in how voter verification is conducted. “The draft electoral rolls are the product of an extensive pre-publication verification drive, including door-to-door checks and digital verification tools. This has helped address common errors even before the list was made public,” said Rakesh Prasad, Deputy CEO.
Traditionally, the first few days after draft publication see voters visiting local election offices or designated help desks to file claims for name additions, spelling corrections, and objections regarding duplicate or ineligible entries. “That we received no claims or objections on the first day suggests the system is becoming more robust and data-driven,” Prasad added.
Digitisation and door-to-door verification
Ahead of this year’s draft rolls, the Election Commission deployed several initiatives to reduce manual errors. Volunteers conducted home visits in urban and rural areas, especially targeting households with first-time voters and senior citizens. Additionally, data from other government records, such as the Aadhaar database, was used for cross-verification, in accordance with legal provisions.
An EC official noted that the effort focused not only on adding new voters but also on identifying deceased voters or those who had shifted residences, often the main reasons for objections in previous years.
“This proactive approach helped clean the draft rolls before publication,” the official said, cautioning that it is still early to conclude the process will remain entirely smooth.
EC calls for continued vigilance
Despite the “zero” figure on day one, the Election Commission urged citizens to thoroughly check the published draft electoral rolls. Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer appealed to voters to verify their details online through the National Voters’ Service Portal (NVSP) or at designated centres in their constituencies.
“The draft list will remain open for scrutiny for several weeks. Voters should not assume there is no need to check simply because no claims were filed on the first day,” the CEO’s office said in a statement. The deadline for filing claims and objections is later this month, after which final rolls will be prepared.
Political reactions
Political parties in Bihar welcomed the EC’s efforts to modernise the electoral process but stressed the importance of ground-level verification. A spokesperson for the ruling party noted, “We appreciate the technology-driven approach, but it’s crucial to ensure that no genuine voter is left out, especially in rural and marginalised communities.”
An opposition party leader echoed the sentiment, cautioning against over-reliance on data systems. “Digital tools help, but they must complement—not replace—local verification,” he said.
Looking ahead
The draft electoral rolls are updated annually and are a vital part of the democratic process. Bihar, with over 7 crore voters, remains a politically significant state. Ensuring accuracy in voter lists is critical for fair elections, and the Election Commission’s recent measures reflect a shift toward proactive and technology-backed voter management.
As the process continues over the coming weeks, the EC expects claims and objections to gradually appear, particularly from newly eligible voters and those who may spot errors after reviewing the draft rolls in detail.
For now, the first day’s “zero” claims and objections highlight both the promise and the challenge of balancing technology, transparency, and inclusive participation in India’s evolving electoral system.
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