Bihar SIR | Unusual patterns in deleted voter lists

A comprehensive analysis of the Election Commission of India (ECI)’s Assembly part-wise list of over 65 lakh deleted electors in Bihar reveals multiple anomalies. The patterns suggest potentially problematic issues that demand deeper investigation. Our analysis of the deleted voter data reveals eight distinct categories of anomalies.

The ECI has provided the information of deleted voters for each Assembly constituency across various parts. Parts correspond to specific polling stations. In the lists provided below, the names of the polling stations, the name of the Assembly constituency, and the name of the district are mentioned in that order.

Key findings:

• 80 parts show unusually high proportions of young deaths
• 127 parts display high gender bias in deletions
• 1,985 parts have abnormally high deletion rates
• 412 parts report excessive deaths
• 7,216 parts show high death proportions
• 973 parts show 100% death-based deletions
• 5,084 parts have high numbers of “absent” voters
• 663 parts show suspicious patterns of “permanently shifted” women

Young deaths

Pattern: Assembly parts where more than 50 people are recorded as deceased, with at least half being under 50 years of age. The data reveals 80 Assembly parts/polling stations across Bihar where death patterns defy demographic norms. In typical populations, deaths are heavily skewed towards older age groups, making high proportions of young deaths statistically anomalous.

Five selected Assembly parts:

1. Urdu Madhya Vidyalay Chakadariya, Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur: 58 total deaths, 50 under the age of 50 (86.2%)
2. Sant Teresa Kanya Madhya Vidyalay, Bagaha, Paschim Champaran: 70 total deaths, 59 under the age of 50 (84.3%)
3. Madarasa Bishanpur, Baisi, Purnia: 61 total deaths, 48 under the age of 50 (78.7%)
4. Uchch Vidyalay Harari, Rajnagar, Madhubani: 58 total deaths, 45 under the age of 50 (77.6%)
5. Prathmik Vidyalay Kanuniya, Raxaul, Purvi Champaran: 59 total deaths, 45 under the age of 50 (76.3%)

There is a concentration of such anomalies in border districts such as Champaran, and in international border areas

High gender bias in deletions

Pattern: Assembly parts/stations where at least 50 women were deleted, with women comprising 80% or more of all deletions. A troubling anomaly, with 127 parts showing high gender bias.

Five selected parts:

1. Upgraded Middle School Ramaniya Pokhar, Kishanganj, Kishanganj: 105 total deletions, 97 women (92.4%)
2. Uchch Vidhyalay Dibhiyan, Kargahar, Rohtas: 85 total deletions, 78 women (91.8%)
3. Utkramit Madhya Vidyalaya Basahi, Rajpur, Buxar: 57 total deletions, 52 women (91.2%)
4. Baban Madhaw Middle School, Chapra, Saran: 64 total deletions, 58 women (90.6%)
5. Urdu Madhya Vidyalay Kudari, Bhabua, Kaimur: 64 total deletions, 57 women (89.1%)

The pattern suggests potential disenfranchisement of women voters, particularly in constituencies with significant minority populations.

Abnormally high deletion rates

Pattern: Parts/poll stations with more than 200 deletions, far exceeding typical rates. With 1,985 parts showing this anomaly, this represents a massive scale of voter deletions.

Three selected parts:

1. Navsrijit Prathamik Vidhyalaya Niranjana, Gopalganj, Gopalganj : 641 total deletions (599 shifted, 39 deaths, 3 absent)
2. Anganbadi Kendra Jangi Ray Ke Tola, Gopalganj, Gopalganj: 627 total deletions (all 627 shifted)
3. Utkramit Madhya Vidyalay Bahudari, Shahpur, Bhojpur: 605 total deletions (539 shifted, 46 deaths)

The concentration in Gopalganj constituency is particularly striking.

Excessive death reports

Pattern: More than 100 deaths reported per part. About 412 parts/poll stations reported such a high number of deaths.

Three selected parts:

1. Adarsh Madhya Vidyalaya Budhiya, Banmankhi, Purnia: 181 deaths (97 male, 84 female, average age 54.9)
2. Rajakiya Polytechnic Textile Technology, Bhagalpur, Bhagalpur: 165 deaths (82 male, 83 female, average age 48.5)
3. Utkramit Madhya Vidyalay Pokhar Bhinda, Manjhi, Saran: 162 deaths (78 male, 84 female, average age 68.4)

High death proportions

Pattern: Over 75% of deletions attributed to deaths. A staggering 7,216 parts/polling stations show this pattern, where death deletions far exceed typical demographic patterns.

Three selected parts:

1. Rajakiya Polytechnic Textile Technology, Bhagalpur: 165 deaths out of 166 deletions (99.4%)
2. Utkramit Madhya Vidyalay Pokhar Bhinda, Manjhi, Saran: 162 deaths out of 191 deletions (84.8%)
3. Upgraded Middle School Dhobiniya, Kishanganj: 158 deaths out of 171 deletions (92.4%)

All deletions due to death

Pattern: All deletions attributed solely to deaths, with no other reasons. About 973 polling stations/parts report this statistically impossible scenario where every single deletion is due to death.

Three selected parts:

1. Balak Prathamik Vidyalay Narayana pur, Barhara, Bhojpur: All 126 deletions are deaths (average age 66.0)
2. Utkramit Madhy Vidhyalay Navakatola, Bhorey, Gopalganj: All 124 deletions are deaths (average age 56.9)
3. Utkramit Madhya Vidyalaya Phulhara, Hajipur, Vaishali: All 118 deletions are deaths (average age 66.8)

Mass “absent” classifications

Pattern: More than 50 voters marked as absent per part/station. 5,084 stations show this pattern.

Three selected parts:

1. Kamla Rai Mahavidhyalaya, Gopalganj, Gopalganj: 457 marked absent (215 male, 242 female, average age 42.2)
2. Madhya Vidyalaya Pranpatti, Kasba, Purnia: 351 marked absent (208 male, 143 female, average age 26.3)
3. Samudaik Bhawan Chauhatta, Hajipur, Vaishali: 339 marked absent (177 male, 162 female, average age 41.9)

Suspicious women “shifts”

Pattern: At least 60 voters marked as shifted, with 75%+ being women. About 663 parts/stations show this pattern where women are disproportionately marked as having “shifted” residence.

Three selected parts:

1. Panchayt Bhawan Sikatiya, Kuchaikote, Gopalganj, Gopalganj: 80 shifted voters, all 80 are women (100%, average age 29.9)
2. Utkrmit Madhay Vidyalaya Chatur Bagaha, Gopalganj, Gopalganj: 63 shifted voters, all 63 are women (100%, average age 30.0)
3. Ramratan Shahi Uchhtar Madhyamik Vidyalay, Gopalganj, Gopalganj: 71 shifted voters, 70 are women (98.6%, average age 30.5)

Geographic and demographic patterns

Border districts: High concentrations of anomalies in Purnia, Kishanganj, and Champaran districts near international borders.

Gopalganj constituency: High concentrations across multiple anomaly categories, suggesting possible irregularities.

Minority-concentrated areas: Many affected parts appear to be in areas with significant Muslim populations.

Young women: Multiple categories show disproportionate impact on younger women electors (18-29 years).

Several patterns defy statistical probability:

• Booths with 100% deletions due to deaths are demographically problematic
• Gender ratios exceeding 90% in deletions contradict natural population patterns
• Young death rates of 75%+ contradict mortality statistics
• Mass “absent” classifications in specific booths calls for a recheck

A few questions need to be raised:

What verification was conducted before marking voters as deceased? Why do certain constituencies show high concentration of anomalies? Why do women seem to be excluded more? And why has such a high share of young voters been excluded under the category ‘deceased’ in many parts?

The ECI should examine polling stations and verify the deleted voters and establish a way of restoring excluded voters if they have been excluded erroneously. For this to happen, the deadline for the claims and objections period must be extended further.

The questions were framed thanks to civil society activist Yogendra Yadav. The data was compiled with the help of Datameet community member, Thejesh GN