India - August 2025

In August, opposition leaders raised concerns about a voter verification initiative known as the Special Intensive Revision, launched by the Election Commission in the state of Bihar. The initiative was conducted ahead of Bihar’s key state elections scheduled later this year, with electoral roll revisions currently underway in other states as well. The drive, which aimed to update voter lists after more than 20 years, took place between June and July and required residents to provide extensive documentation as proof of citizenship. Critics have said that the onerous documentation and haste of the exercise risks disenfranchising millions of youths, migrants and marginalized groups. A draft of the updated SIR list was published on 1 August, upon which some analysts noted errors in counting and misassigned names, among other issues. The Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar stated that there has been no wrongdoing, adding that ‘when the voter list is intensively verified, such large differences in numbers are bound to occur.’ The Supreme Court is currently reviewing the legality of the process, with a final verdict expected on 7 October that could impact voter registration practices nationwide. 

Sources: BBC News, The Times of India