In a stunning revelation, the Election Commission (EC) announced on Friday that nearly 35 lakh electors in Bihar have either permanently migrated or remain untraceable as the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the state’s electoral roll concluded.

With Bihar’s 7.90 crore-strong electorate gearing up for polls later this year, the cleanup has exposed major gaps, including 22 lakh deceased voters and seven lakh duplicate registrations.

The EC’s booth-level officers and agents have digitized forms for 7.23 crore electors, covering 99.8% of the state’s voters, with the draft roll set for release on August 1. Lists of missing, deceased, or migrated voters were shared with 12 political parties on July 20 to correct errors.

From August 1 to September 1, parties and electors can submit claims or objections to ensure accuracy. The EC is racing to finalize the remaining 1.2 lakh forms by August 1, aiming for a cleaner, fairer electoral roll.

Also Read: "This Isn't About Politics; it's About Protecting the Constitution" CEC Aiming for Bihar Voter List Cleanup!