Patna, July 13, 2025 — In a major revelation during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls in Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday confirmed that a significant number of foreign nationals—primarily from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar—were detected during door-to-door verification. The poll body has assured that these names will not be included in the final voters list to be published on September 30, 2025, pending proper verification starting August 1.
The ongoing SIR process, which began on June 25, is a critical effort to clean up and update Bihar’s electoral records. The last date for voters to submit their Enumeration Forms (EFs) to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) is July 25, following which a draft electoral roll will be released on August 1.
Foreign Nationals Detected, Not Eligible to Vote
ECI sources have said that during intensive house-to-house visits, BLOs encountered several individuals who appeared to be non-Indian nationals residing in various districts across Bihar. These individuals were found to be from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, raising serious concerns about potential misuse of the electoral system.
“Their names shall not be included in the final list after due verification is carried out post-August 1,” said an ECI official on condition of anonymity.
Supreme Court Intervenes on Aadhaar, EPIC, and Ration Cards
Adding to the procedural complexities, the Supreme Court of India is currently hearing multiple petitions challenging the SIR guidelines. On July 10, the apex court asked the ECI to consider widely held documents such as Aadhaar cards, EPIC (Voter ID), and Ration Cards as valid documentary proof for voter registration.
Currently, 11 documents are approved for voter verification under the SIR. Notably, Aadhaar, EPIC, and Ration Cards are excluded from this list. However, the ECI has clarified that these documents can be submitted during the claims period after the draft list is published on August 1.
The next hearing in the Supreme Court is scheduled for July 28, just days before the release of the draft voter roll.
Impressive Response from Electors
Despite the challenges, the voter outreach in Bihar has seen an encouraging response. As of 6 p.m. on July 12, the ECI reported that 6,32,59,497 Enumeration Forms had been collected, marking an 80.11% completion rate. In other words, four out of every five electors in Bihar have already submitted their forms, a figure the commission termed “commendable.”
The ECI credited this progress to the efficient coordination between field-level officials, including:
- 38 District Election Officers (DEOs)
- Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) across 243 Assembly constituencies
- 963 Assistant EROs (AEROs)
These teams are being closely supervised by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar to ensure transparency and timely execution of the process.
Once the draft electoral roll is published on August 1, the next crucial phase will begin—the claims and objections period, where voters can challenge omissions or errors and submit necessary documents. This period is expected to play a critical role in verifying the citizenship status of those flagged during BLO visits.
Following this, after due enquiry and validation, the final updated voter list for Bihar will be published on September 30, 2025.
Why This Matters
The Bihar SIR has become more than just a bureaucratic exercise—it’s now a litmus test for electoral integrity in a border state where migration and undocumented settlements are common. With national elections on the horizon, ensuring that only eligible citizens are granted voting rights is vital for democratic credibility.
As Bihar continues to navigate the complexities of electoral revision, all eyes are on the ECI, the Supreme Court, and local authorities to ensure that the final list reflects only genuine Indian voters—no more, no less.
