The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar has reached 66 per cent voter coverage, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI), with the final deadline still more than two weeks away.
As of 6 pm on Thursday, 5.22 crore enumeration forms — 66.16 per cent of the total 7.89 crore existing electors in the state — had been collected since the revision drive began on June 24.
The ECI credited the progress to the active participation of voters and the coordinated effort of 77,895 Booth Level Officers (BLOs), over 20,000 newly appointed BLOs, and more than four lakh volunteers who are helping elderly, differently-abled, sick, and vulnerable voters. In addition, 1.56 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by all recognised political parties are supporting the exercise.
Nearly 7.90 crore forms were printed for the drive, and about 98 per cent — roughly 7.71 crore — have already been distributed to voters whose names were on the rolls as of June 24.
The ECI said the collection exercise could be completed ahead of the July 25 deadline if the current pace continues.