**Policy Summary: Facilitating Electoral Roll Revision in Bihar through 2003 Electoral Roll Availability**
This policy addresses the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has uploaded the 2003 Electoral Roll of Bihar, containing details of 4.96 crore electors, to the ECI website (https://voters.eci.gov.in). This action aims to streamline the ongoing SIR process.
According to ECI instructions dated June 24, 2025, Chief Electoral Officers (CEO), District Election Officers (DEO) and Electoral Registration Officers (ERO) are to make the 2003 Electoral Rolls freely accessible to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) in hard copy and online.
The availability of the 2003 Electoral Roll will allow approximately 60% of the electorate to verify their details and submit the Enumeration Form without needing to provide additional documentation. Furthermore, individuals whose names are not on the 2003 roll can use an extract of the 2003 roll pertaining to their parents, eliminating the need for alternative parental documentation. In such instances, only the applicant's documents are required.
The policy reiterates the mandatory nature of electoral roll revision before each election, as per Section 212A of the Representation of the People Act 1950 and Rule 25 of the Registration of Elector Rules 1960. Revisions are essential due to the dynamic nature of the electoral roll, influenced by factors such as deaths, migration, and new voters reaching the age of 18. Article 326 of the Constitution defines the eligibility criteria for electors: Indian citizenship, being over 18 years of age, and ordinary residence in the constituency.
This information was released by PIB Delhi on June 30, 2025, at 2:10 PM (Release ID: 2140722).
Key Entities Referenced
Election Commission of India: The constitutional body responsible for conducting elections in India, which uploaded the 2003 Electoral Roll of Bihar on its website.
Bihar: A state in India where the 2003 Electoral Roll was uploaded and where the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is ongoing.
2003 Electoral Roll of Bihar: The specific electoral roll that was uploaded and is being used as documentary evidence during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar.
Special Intensive Revision SIR: The ongoing revision process in Bihar that is facilitated by the availability of the 2003 Electoral Rolls.
BLOs: Abbreviation for Booth Level Officers, who are provided with hard copies and online access to the Electoral Rolls.
Enumeration Form: The form that electors need to submit, and for which the 2003 Electoral Roll can be used as supporting documentation.
Representation of People Act 1950: An Act of the Parliament of India, which mandates the revision of electoral rolls before every election as per Section 212a.
Registration of Elector Rules 1960: The rules pertaining to the registration of electors, specifically Rule 25, is mentioned in relation to the mandatory revision of electoral rolls.
Election Commission
Bihar SIR: 2003 Electoral Rolls Uploaded on ECI
Website
4.96 crore electors do not need to submit any
documents
Children of these 4.96 crore electors need not submit
any other document relating to their parents
Posted On: 30 JUN 2025 2:10PM by PIB Delhi
The Election Commission of India has uploaded the 2003 Electoral Roll of Bihar, comprising details of 4.96
crore electors, on the ECI website – https://voters.eci.gov.in.
2. In Para 5 of ECI instructions dated June 24, 2025, it had been mentioned that the CEO/DEO/ERO
shall make the Electoral Rolls with qualifying date of 01.01.2003 freely available to all BLOs in hard copy, as
well as, online on their website for anyone to download and use as documentary evidence while submitting
their Enumeration Form.
3. The ease of availability of 2003 Electoral Rolls of Bihar, would hugely facilitate the ongoing Special
Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar as now nearly 60 per cent of the total electorate, would not have to submit
any documents. They have to just verify their details from the 2003 Electoral Rolls in the ER and submit the
filled-up Enumeration Form. Both, the electors as well the BLOs, would be able to readily access these
details.
4. Further, as per instructions, anyone whose name is not in the 2003 Bihar Electoral Roll can still use
the extract of 2003 Electoral Roll rather than providing any other documents for his/her mother or father. In
such cases, no other document would be required for his/her mother or father. Only the relevant extract/details
of the 2003 ER would be sufficient. Such electors would have to submit the documents, only for themselves,
along with the filled-up Enumeration Form.
5. It is reiterated that before every election, revision of electoral roll is mandatory as per section 21(2)(a)
of the Representation of People Act 1950 and Rule 25 of the Registration of Elector Rules 1960. ECI has been
conducting annual revisions, intensive as well as summary, for 75 years by now.
6. This exercise is required as the Electoral Roll is always a dynamic list which keeps changing due to
deaths, shifting of people due to various reasons such as migration due to occupation/education/marriage,
addition of new voters who have turned 18 etc.
7. Further, Article 326 of the Constitution specifies the eligibility to become an elector. Only Indian
citizens, above 18 years and ordinary residents in that constituency, are eligible to be registered as an elector.******
PK/GDH/RP
(Release ID: 2140722)