The problem of dubious duplicates: categories of duplication

The investigation further broke down the data into more granular categories, highlighting the varying degrees of suspiciousness:

• Identical Entries: In 16,375 cases, the duplicates were “spitting replicas” of each other, with names, relatives’ names, ages, and addresses all matching exactly or being only a few kilometres apart. These are the cases that should have been the easiest for the Election Commission of India (ECI) to detect.
• Near-Perfect Matches: There were 25,862 cases where all credentials—names, relatives’ names, and ages—matched, but the addresses were different. The report suggests that these could have been easily caught by the ECI’s software designed to identify “demographically similar entries.”
• Similar Ages: The most common category of duplication involved 1.02 lakh cases where individuals were registered twice with the same name, parent’s name, and an age difference of up to 5 years. This age similarity makes it difficult for a polling officer to distinguish between the two entries, potentially allowing a person to vote twice. The investigation also found 40,781 cases with a 6–10-year age difference and 45,774 cases with a difference of over 10 years.

New Investigation: We uncovered 1.88 lakh suspicious double voter registrations across just 39 assembly constituencies in Bihar, contradicting the Election Commission of India’s claim of having eliminated duplicates. 1/5https://t.co/cI1BhTLlFK

— the reporters’ collective (@reporters_co) September 1, 2025

The findings directly contradict the ECI’s claim that it had already removed more than seven lakh duplicate voters, representing 0.89% of electors, before publishing the draft rolls. The sheer number of remaining duplicates suggests that the deduplication process was not as thorough as the ECI had stated. The report also highlights that the ECI made the draft electoral rolls non-machine-readable, complicating large-scale data analysis by external parties.

Anomalies in voter deletions

On September 1, a separate analysis by The Hindu focused on the 65 lakh voters deleted from the draft electoral roll and revealed several distinct categories of anomalies. The patterns uncovered raise concerns about potential disenfranchisement, particularly of women and young voters, and the accuracy of the reasons for deletion.

Suspicious deletion patterns

The analysis identified eight specific patterns that defy demographic norms:

• Young Deaths: 80 assembly parts (polling stations) showed an unusually high proportion of young deaths. In these areas, more than half of the deceased voters were under the age of 50. For example, at one polling station in Bhagalpur, 50 out of 58 total deaths were of individuals under 50.
• Gender Bias: In 127 parts, there was a high gender bias in deletions, with women making up 80% or more of all deletions. This pattern suggests the potential disenfranchisement of women voters, particularly in areas with significant minority populations.
• Abnormally High Deletion Rates: 1,985 parts had more than 200 deletions each. In one part in Gopalganj, 641 voters were deleted, with the majority marked as “shifted.”
• Excessive Deaths: 412 parts reported more than 100 deaths each, a number that is demographically improbable.
• High Death Proportions: A staggering 7,216 parts reported that over 75% of their deletions were due to deaths. In some cases, like at a polling station in Bhagalpur, 99.4% of deletions were attributed to death.
• 100% Death-Based Deletions: 973 parts reported that all deletions were solely due to death, a statistically impossible scenario.
• Mass “Absent” Classifications: 5,084 stations had more than 50 voters marked as “absent.” In one case in Gopalganj, 457 voters were classified as absent.
• Suspicious Women “Shifts”: 663 parts showed a pattern where at least 60 voters were marked as “shifted,” with women comprising 75% or more of those cases. In three parts in Gopalganj, 100% of the shifted voters were women.

The Hindu Report published on September 1, 2025

The geographic concentration of these anomalies in border districts and areas with significant minority populations is also noted. The high proportion of deleted young women voters, particularly those marked as “shifted,” raises questions about whether these are cases of marriage migration that were not properly re-registered.

The narratives and numbers

The two reports, while distinct in their focus, paint a similar picture of a flawed electoral roll revision process. They highlight a significant gap between the ECI’s stated claims of a “purified” list and the ground reality revealed by data analysis. The ECI has, in its social media statements, not denied the facts presented but has questioned the methodology, calling it “data mining” and arguing that such patterns do not conclusively prove duplication without on-the-ground verification.

However, the findings have been also endorsed by opposition political parties and activists. The Vote for Democracy expert, Dr. Pyara Lal Garg, for instance, extrapolated the findings of The Reporters’ Collective to estimate the total number of fake voters across all 243 constituencies in Bihar to be over 11.7 lakhs. Similarly, the Congress party has claimed to have submitted 89 lakh complaints of irregularities.

Another day, another “Voter Fraud”: Congress

Reacting to the Reporters’ Collective findings, Congress MP and General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala criticised the ECI. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “Another day – another ‘Voter Fraud’! Now, 1,88,000 (1.88 Lakh) ‘Dubious Double Voters’ exposed in Bihar. No day passes before ‘Vote Chori’ isn’t exposed in Bihar

Another day – another “Voter Fraud” !

Now, 1,88,000 (1.88 Lakh) “Dubious Double Voters” exposed in Bihar.

No day passes before “Vote Chori” isn’t exposed in Bihar. https://t.co/KiSk5xRjzH

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) September 1, 2025

TMC MP Sagarika Ghosh also slammed the silence of mainstream media and the inaction of the Election Commission. She posted on X that “Mainstream Godi media may blank out the Opposition’s #VoterAdhikarYatra but EVERY DAY brings out new exposes by non-legacy media of MASSIVE vote manipulation. Time for the Kumbhakarna called @ECISVEEP to wake up. Aisa ‘SIR’ nahi chalega, sirs! #SIR”

Mainstream Godi media may blank out the Opposition’s #VoterAdhikarYatra but EVERY DAY brings out new exposes by non legacy media of MASSIVE vote manipulation . Time for the Kumbhakarna called @ECISVEEP to wake up. Aisa ‘SIR’ nahi chalega, sirs! #SIR #VoteChorGaddiChhor https://t.co/DXWBDc8rhU

— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) September 1, 2025

However, the ECI has maintained that the draft roll is subject to continuous scrutiny and that individuals and political parties have the opportunity to file claims and objections. The reports highlight the difficulty in doing so, especially with the rolls being non-machine-readable. The Supreme Court has also intervened, with the ECI assuring the court that claims and objections can be filed even after the official deadline, extending the window for voters to rectify their details.

Moreover, the investigations reveal the critical need for transparency and a robust, verifiable process for electoral roll revision. While the ECI has the ultimate authority to validate these cases, the sheer volume of these dubious entries and deletions suggests that the current system has significant shortcomings that could impact the outcome of upcoming elections.

Related

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The Stolen Franchise: Why the Election Commission cannot escape accountability

The post 1.88 lakh dubious double voters found in Bihar, unusual deletion patterns raise doubts appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Apart from answering the question on ‘suspicious voter’ category, the exchange in the Upper House also focused on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and concerns over their integrity, which the ECI refuted by citing legal history and public information. In response, Law Minister Arjun Lal Meghwal provided the ECI’s official stance. On the first point, the ECI clarified that the Representation of People Act, 1951, does not recognise a category of “suspicious voters.” On the matter of potential manipulation, the ECI stated that election results cannot be manipulated on EVMs. 

ECI rejects apprehensions, cites court rulings

Emphasising that the EVMs cannot be manipulated, the response from the ECI via the Law Ministry also stated that as many 42 petitions against use of EVMs which have been filed before various High Courts and Supreme Court and after going through various aspects of the technological soundness and the administrative safeguards involved in the use of EVMs, courts have found “EVMs tamper proof, credible and reliable.” The Law Minister also informed the House that the machines have been used in numerous elections and have undergone public and legal scrutiny over the years. 

“The ECI has stated that there is no doubt in fairness and integrity of EVMs which have stood the test of several elections, public and legal scrutiny over the years. The ECI has further informed that in at least 42 petitions against use of EVMs which have been filed before various High Courts and Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and after going through various aspects of the technological soundness and the administrative safeguards involved in the use of EVMs, the Hon’ble courts have repeatedly held that EVMs are tamper proof, credible and reliable. The ECI has also mentioned that in order to dispel any apprehension of any kind whatsoever, EVM related documents, such as manual on EVM and VVPAT, presentation on EVM, status paper on EVM, legal history of EVMs and VVPATs and FAQs on EVM are available in public domain i.e. ECI website (https://www.eci.gov.in/evm-vvpat)” Law Minister said in Rajya Sabha

Furthermore, the ECI noted that to help voters understand the technology and processes, EVM-related documents such as the manual on EVM and VVPAT, a status paper, and a legal history of the machines are publicly available on its official website.

ECI’s answer dated 31.07.2025 can be read here

Related

VFD’s rebuttal of the Fadnavis’ Claims on Electoral Manipulation Allegations

Bihar’s SIR process reveals an exercise of illegitimate powers, ECI forcing district machinery to resort to unethical practices: CCG’s Open Letter

Bihar SIR: 65 Lakh electors flagged for deletion, SC said “if there is mass exclusion, we will immediately step in”

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