CEC: Bihar's electoral roll revision drove record voter turnout

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Sunday said the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls conducted in Bihar last year contributed to a higher voter turnout in the subsequent State Assembly elections. SIR is a focused exercise to update voter lists, involving deletion of duplicate, shifted, and deceased entries and inclusion of eligible voters. The exercise is part of the Election Commission's broader effort to ensure error-free electoral rolls across the country.

Mr. Kumar arrived in Patna on a two-day visit, accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Manish Garg, Director General (Media) Ashish Goyal, Director General (IT) Seema Khanna, and other senior officials. Addressing a press conference at the airport, he thanked the voters of Bihar and said he had come to pay respects to the sacred land of Bihar.

He described SIR as the most successful nationwide initiative for the revision of electoral rolls and said it had its origins in Bihar. "The voter turnout during the last Assembly election was the highest recorded since Independence," he said, adding that it surpassed the turnout rates of several developed nations, including France, Japan, and Spain. While he did not provide specific turnout figures, he attributed the rise to the revision process.

Mr. Kumar also highlighted the historical significance of Vaishali, which he referred to as the "mother of democracy." "Bihar is the land where Vaishali, the birthplace of democracy, is located. It is a matter of pride that the SIR was successfully conducted here for the first time," he said. Historical records indicate that the Lichhavi clan, which existed between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE, established one of the world's earliest republics in Vaishali, long before democratic systems emerged elsewhere. Vaishali is also associated with the last sermon of the Buddha and the second Buddhist council, adding to its historical importance. The republican system practiced by the Lichhavis is often regarded as a precursor to modern democratic institutions.

The CEC said the SIR exercise led to the removal of around 70 lakh names from the electoral rolls. "The revision was followed by the Assembly elections, which recorded a significant rise in voter turnout," he stated. He added that such revisions are necessary to maintain the accuracy of electoral rolls.

During his visit, Mr. Kumar is scheduled to travel to Vaishali, Madhubani, and Sitamarhi. On Monday, August 17, he will interact with around 500 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) at Nalanda University in Rajgir. BLOs are responsible for field verification of voters and play a key role in the revision exercise.

Earlier, at the Patna airport, Bihar Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, Patna District Magistrate Kundan Kumar, and Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikey Kumar Sharma welcomed him.

The Election Commission periodically conducts such revisions to ensure that eligible citizens are not left off the rolls and ineligible names are removed. Accurate electoral rolls are considered fundamental to the credibility of democratic elections. The commission has repeatedly emphasised the need for error-free rolls as a prerequisite for free and fair elections.