India's Election Commission (ECI) initiated a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar in June 2025, an exercise critics allege has systematically removed an estimated 130 to 133 million marginalized voters from the rolls. This revision process has led to a calculated shortfall of approximately 140 million eligible adult voters missing from the final electoral rolls compared to the total adult population.

This significant reduction in registered voters could impact the democratic process in India, raising concerns about disenfranchisement, particularly among vulnerable communities, and the integrity of future elections.

What the Records Show

An estimated 130 million names were flagged for removal during this revision, with one elections specialist, Yogendra Yadav, putting the estimate at 130 million deleted names. Another report indicates approximately 133 million names were flagged for removal. Categories for deletion included 30.1 million voters listed as absent or untraceable, 63 million as permanently shifted, 28 million as deceased, 10.2 million as duplicate, and 2.6 million under other reasons, totaling 133.9 million voters.

Critics contend that the SIR disproportionately affects Muslims, Dalits, migrant workers, and women, who are generally less likely to support the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Reports suggest that protests, including mass detentions in New Delhi, have occurred against the exercise, with some calling for CEC Kumar's resignation. The Supreme Court upheld the ECI's power to conduct the SIR but clarified that the ECI is not the ultimate authority for citizenship determination and must refer cases of doubtful citizenship to the competent authority under the Citizenship Act, 1955. The Court noted that citizenship is a prerequisite for electoral enrollment.

Internal Dissent and ECI Response

What We Could Not Confirm