The Election Commission of India released the final electoral roll for the Bihar Assembly elections 2025Bihar on September 30, 2025 — cutting the number of registered voters from 7.89 crore to 7.42 crore after the most aggressive voter list cleanup in the state’s history. The reduction of nearly 47 lakh names wasn’t due to population decline. It was the result of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), a door-to-door verification drive that exposed decades of ghost voters, duplicate entries, and outdated records. For millions of Bihar residents, this isn’t just bureaucratic housekeeping — it’s about ensuring their vote counts.
How Voters Can Check Their Status — And Why It Matters
If your name disappeared from the list, you’re not alone. Nearly 47 lakh people were removed. But here’s the twist: many of them may have never voted in the first place. The Election Commission of India launched the SIR after the 2020 elections revealed that roughly 65 lakh names on the rolls were fraudulent — people who had moved, died, or never existed. This time, they didn’t just cross-check databases. They sent Booth Level Officers to homes, schools, and workplaces. Some voters were surprised to find their names gone. Others were relieved — finally, their registration was accurate.
Verifying your status is simple, but the options are layered. You can visit ceoelection.bihar.gov.in, ceobihar.nic.in, or the national portal voters.eci.gov.in. Click on the green box labeled “SIR Final Electoral Roll w.r.t. 01.07.2025,” then pick your district, assembly constituency, language, and roll type. Enter the CAPTCHA. Download the PDF. Done. Or, if you’re on the go, send an SMS: type EPIC followed by your voter ID number (like EPIC ABC1234567) and send it to 9211728082 or 1950. You’ll get your polling booth, ward, and serial number back within minutes.
The National Voters’ Service Portal (NVSP) at nvsp.in offers another route — search by name, father’s or husband’s name, age, gender, or EPIC number. No need to know your constituency. Just type what you remember. The system works even on basic phones.
The Numbers Behind the Cleanup
The scale of the SIR was unprecedented. Over 90,712 polling booths across Bihar’s 243 assembly constituencies were audited. Political parties got early access to draft rolls from August 1–2, 2025. The Rashtriya Janata Dal filed 47,506 objections. Janata Dal (United) submitted 1,913. The Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party added 270. Altogether, 1,60,813 forms were filed — a sign that parties were watching closely, and voters were paying attention.
Even more telling: 3,223 new Form 6 applications came in during that same window — from young voters turning 18 between July and October 2025. That’s not just cleanup. It’s renewal. The ECI also began accepting Aadhaar as a supporting document for identity verification, after public outcry over mass deletions in past years. For the first time, voters without traditional documents could prove their identity using biometric data.
Timeline: From Draft to Final
The process wasn’t rushed. The ECI mapped out a strict timeline:
- October 28–November 3, 2025: Training and printing for Booth Level Officers
- December 9, 2025: Draft rolls published
- December 9, 2025 – January 8, 2026: Claims and objections window
- February 7, 2026: Final voter list certified and published
The final roll, published on September 30, 2025, was a preliminary version. The official, legally binding list came later — on February 7, 2026 — after all appeals were settled. This delay was intentional. The ECI wanted to avoid last-minute chaos. No one wants to show up at a booth on election day only to find their name missing.
Why This Matters Beyond Bihar
Bihar’s SIR is a blueprint. Other states with high rates of electoral fraud — Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand — are watching. If this works, it could become the national standard. The use of Aadhaar, door-to-door verification, and SMS-based access are all innovations that could be replicated. And the results? A cleaner roll doesn’t just prevent fraud. It builds trust. When voters believe the system is fair, turnout rises. When they feel excluded, cynicism spreads.
Prabhat Mishra, writing for Jagran Josh, put it plainly: “Checking your name in the voter list is crucial to ensure hassle-free participation in the democratic process.” And that’s the real goal. Not just to remove fake names, but to give real voters confidence.
What’s Next? New Registrations and Election Day Prep
The portal still accepts new registrations. Anyone turning 18 before October 1, 2025, can apply via Form 6 — and Bihar residents must attach Annexure D, a local affidavit form. The ECI is also rolling out mobile voter registration vans in remote districts. Meanwhile, randomization of polling booths — designed to prevent booth-capturing — is underway. The final list will be printed and distributed to over 90,000 booths by mid-October 2025.
For now, the message is clear: if you’re eligible to vote in Bihar, check your name. Do it now. Not tomorrow. Not a week before polling day. Do it today. Because in a state where elections have been decided by a few thousand votes, your name on the list isn’t just a formality — it’s your power.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my name is missing from the Bihar voter list 2025?
If your name is missing, file a claim using Form 6 on the NVSP portal or at your nearest Electoral Registration Officer’s office. You’ll need proof of age and residence — Aadhaar, passport, or utility bills are accepted. The deadline for claims was January 8, 2026, but you can still apply for inclusion in future rolls. If you’re eligible and missed the window, contact the CEO Bihar office directly; exceptions are sometimes made for documented cases of error.
Can I use my Aadhaar card to verify my voter status?
Yes. The Election Commission of India now accepts Aadhaar as a supporting document for voter verification in Bihar, following widespread criticism of past deletions. While Aadhaar alone doesn’t register you, it can confirm your identity when cross-referenced with your EPIC number. This change was introduced to reduce disenfranchisement among marginalized communities who lack traditional documents.
Why was the voter list reduced by nearly 47 lakh names?
The reduction came from the Special Intensive Revision, a ground-level audit that removed duplicate, deceased, and non-resident voters. Earlier revisions had deleted 65 lakh names in 2020, sparking public anger. This time, the ECI used door-to-door verification, Aadhaar matching, and data from the Unique Identification Authority of India to ensure accuracy — not just deletion. Many removed names were duplicates or belonged to people who had moved out of state.
How do I find my polling station if I don’t know my assembly constituency?
Use the NVSP portal or SMS service. Type “EPIC” followed by your voter ID number and send it to 9211728082 or 1950. You’ll receive your polling booth number, ward, and assembly constituency via SMS. Alternatively, enter your name, father’s/husband’s name, and date of birth on voters.eci.gov.in — the system will auto-detect your constituency based on your address history.
Is the final voter list different from the one published on September 30, 2025?
Yes. The September 30 list was a preliminary version. The legally binding final roll was published on February 7, 2026, after the claims and objections period ended on January 8, 2026. All corrections, appeals, and new registrations processed during that window were incorporated. Always check the February 7 version before election day — it’s the only one that matters.
What happens if I don’t verify my voter details before the election?
If your name isn’t on the final list, you won’t be allowed to vote — even if you show up with ID. There are no exceptions on polling day. The ECI doesn’t allow on-the-spot registration. That’s why they’ve spent months urging people to verify early. If you’re unsure, SMS your EPIC number now. It takes 10 seconds. And it could mean the difference between your voice being heard — or silenced.
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