EC uploads Bihar’s 2003 electoral roll to ease document submission

In a major measure to reduce documentation burdens, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has uploaded the 2003 electoral roll of Bihar to its website. This archival list, digitised and made available under the “missing voters” initiative, is part of the Commission’s efforts to assist voters who may have been left out of recent rolls due to lack of documentation.

According to the official announcement by the ECI, the decision particularly benefits more than 4.96 crore voters whose names figured in the 2003 roll. These individuals will not be required to submit any further documents to prove their identity or citizenship when applying for inclusion in the current electoral roll, ECI said in an announcement.

#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

Read more : https://t.co/Sz2COY3TAB pic.twitter.com/IjGDLZzj9H

— Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) June 30, 2025

Again, the Commission has clarified that the children of these voters, whose familial linkage is verifiable through the 2003 roll, will also be exempt from submitting parental documentation, thus removing a key obstacle that often affects voter registration in interior parts of the state.

The initiative is grounded in Rule 26 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, ECI said, which allows for inclusion based on previous electoral data and is designed to ensure that no eligible citizen is denied the right to vote due to procedural hurdles.

The ECI’s move is expected to improve voter access ahead of upcoming elections in Bihar and could serve as a model for similar roll digitisation efforts across the country. By combining historical records with digital access, the Commission has said it aims to reinforce trust in the electoral process and ensure wider democratic participation.

Assembly electionsBiharcitizenshipdocument submissionelectoral rollWeb Exclusive