The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar is an extensive exercise to update voter lists through verification of existing voter information, removal of deceased or ineligible voters, and correcting errors. Several concerns have been raised about SIR regarding wrongful deletion of voters, and especially its effect on poor and marginalised communities. Many have talked about migrant labourers, women and Dalit groups being excluded from the exercise. Yet, such arguments do not highlight how people with disabilities are being included and counted. 

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI) 2024 data, Bihar has 7,45,937 voters with disabilities – 0.95% of the total voter population of the state. This includes 4,51,643 male, 2,94,255 female and 39 transgender voters with disabilities. Lack of targeted outreach towards these voters by any party or the ECI, raises a crucial question around inclusion of disability in the political process. Do they remain invisible casualties of a system that often overlooks their most basic needs?

Data on voters with disabilities
On 1st August 2025, the ECI published a list of over 65 lakh voters who were excluded from the Bihar draft electoral roll. The names of these voters were in the Bihar voter list till 2025. But after the SIR exercise, 22 lakh were reportedly found to be deceased, 36 lakh had moved away or were untraceable, and 7 lakh were found registered in more than one place. However, there is no data that shows how many of the 65 lakh voters were persons with disabilities.

These are significant data gaps that need to be addressed to make sure people with disabilities are not excluded. Data collection will help with the identification of problem areas and working towards solutions. 

Exclusion of persons with disabilities due to inadequate data also means that critical issues are set aside or placed on the back-burner. Aspects such as accessible infrastructure, employment, education and political participation do not find a space for discussion. It is when persons with disabilities are rightfully counted, included and catered to, that their concerns will be highlighted as citizens. 

Election results in states like Haryana have demonstrated that even a relatively small number of votes can determine the result of a seat, and sometimes, of an entire government. In Haryana, voters with disabilities could have impacted results in 12 seats in 2024. In Adampur, the Congress won by 1,268 votes. The involvement of the 1,869 voters with disabilities in the constituency would have made the contest more competitive and inclusive of the demands of people with disabilities. In Mahendragarh, the BJP’s victory margin was 2,48 votes, while there were 1,973 voters with disabilities. These votes can make a big difference in election outcomes for contesting candidates. 

What the ECI already mandates
The ECI has committed to inclusion and equal representation of people with disabilities. Several notifications and advisories have been issued for political parties and accessibility of polling stations. Assured Minimum Facilities at polling stations include ramps and signage, washrooms, arrangement for transport for voters with disability and senior citizens, introduction of the ECI-SAKSHAM app, provision of voting from home, and available helpline numbers. For political parties, advisories have been issued to refrain from using derogatory language or depict stereotypes around disability. Instead, parties should make efforts to include more persons with disabilities as members and party workers, to shed attitudinal barriers and provide equal opportunities.

Despite these provisions and advisories, effective implementation is key towards ECI’s motto of ‘no voter left behind’, especially in rural and remote regions. Mainstream election campaigns or manifestos rarely go beyond tokenistic mentions of disability rights. 

Recommendations
It is recommended that measures of accessible communication and sensitisation should be kept in mind while the SIR exercise is being conducted. Information about SIR has been circulated by the ECI through District Collectors, ECI and Electoral Office websites. Such information should be made accessible through Braille, easy-to-read or audio formats. Proactive outreach is also needed to help people with disabilities during SIR to know their rights or assist in the claims-and-objections process if wrongly omitted from a draft roll. 

Eligible citizens will be included in the SIR exercise through door-to-door surveys by Booth Level Officers. Major parties have appointed over 1.5 lakh Booth Level Agents to ensure fair and inclusive enumeration. Monitoring mechanisms can be developed to ensure effective and accessible communication with persons with disabilities while the exercise is being carried out.

A mammoth exercise such as SIR, taking place before assembly elections, is a critical time for a state. It is crucial to ensure that all citizens, including those with disabilities, have equal opportunities to be heard and seen in the democratic process. 

Akshay Jain is Program Manager, Akeel Usmani is Legal Aid Coordinator, and Ananya Sharma is Program Associate, all at the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People.