For a state like Bihar, which has historically had low turnout, this suggests that a accurate list, not just a large one, is key to understanding and improving democratic participation. (Image: File)
Bihar’s first phase of assembly polls saw an extraordinary 64.66% voter turnout — the highest in over ten years. The figure, though celebratory, comes with an irony: it followed an extensive Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive that struck off millions of voters, raising questions about the underlying force behind this record turnout.
Ahead of the elections, the Election Commission of India carried out a major overhaul of Bihar’s electoral rolls. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise resulted in the removal of 3.07 million voters, trimming the list by about 4% from what it was during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In the 121 constituencies that just voted, 1.53 million voters were removed. This purge led to concerns that the electorate was being artificially shrunk, potentially suppressing the final turnout percentage.
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Analyzing the total number of voters rather than simply the percentage is crucial to solving this riddle. Despite the smaller voter list, a total of 24.3 million people cast their ballots in this first phase. This figure is crucially higher than the 21.55 million who voted in these same constituencies during the 2024 national election. The record-breaking percentage is a result of a higher number of votes being cast from a more refined and potentially more accurate voter list.
Trends in the data point to a more active and authentic voter base emerging after the SIR. Although the total number of registered electors rose by just 1.1% since the last state election, voter turnout increased by 17.1%. The sharp contrast suggests that the revision helped eliminate duplicate or inactive voters By cleaning the list, the SIR may have increased the proportion of committed, resident voters, thereby boosting the turnout rate.
Also Read: Bihar Shatters 25-Year Record: Phase 1 Polls See Highest-Ever Voter Participation at 64.6%
This trend provides evidence that electoral purges, when done correctly, can enhance the reliability of turnout figures. Rather than signaling voter suppression, they may reflect a fairer representation of those genuinely invested in the process. For Bihar, where participation has long lagged, the focus shifts from expanding voter lists to ensuring their validity.
