Bihar has published the draft of its special summary revision of the electoral roll, adding around 7.95 lakh new voters with the eligibility date of January 1, 2025, setting the ball rolling for the Assembly election next year.
The state has over 7.72 crore voters, including 4.04 crore male and 3.68 crore female voters, in the population of 13.07 crore. The figures hint that 5.35 crore people in the state will be less than 18 years at the beginning of next year.
The socio-demographic figures of the electoral roll reveal a sex ratio (number of females per thousand males in the population) of 910 among the enlisted voters in the state. Though it has improved by one point since January 1 this year when it was 909, it is way below the sex ratio of 953 as portrayed by the caste-based survey conducted last year
Incidentally, the sex ratio in Bihar was 918 as per the 2011 census. As per the data, there are 2,171 third-gender voters. Their numbers have declined by 119 in comparison to January 1, 2024, when it was pegged at 2,290.
“The legislative Assembly elections will be held next year and the people should have their names in the electoral roll to participate in it. We have published the summary revision of the electoral roll for the state on Tuesday after the pre-revision activities,” Bihar’s chief electoral officer (CEO) H.R. Srinivasa said.
“Those whose names have not been included, or who want to make any correction, or wish the removal of their names as they are staying outside the state, or want the exclusion of names of the deceased in their families could apply till November 29 in offline or online mode,” he said.
The CEO also appealed to the people to ensure that women voters who could have been left out are included in the electoral roll.
A special campaign to include or exclude names in the electoral roll would be organised on November 2, 3, 23 and 24 at the polling stations across the state. People could avail the opportunity as the booth-level officers would be present with relevant application forms at their respective polling stations.
“The eligible people could also submit the forms anytime to their respective block development officers or electoral officers. We have a free voter helpline number 1950 in all districts and a toll free number 18003451950 at my office,” Srinivasa said.
