New Delhi: The ‘Special Intensive Amendment’ of the Election Commission of Bihar’s election role has given rise to a major political debate. However, this is not the first time that the pole panel ordered an ‘intensive’ amendment of the electoral roll-at least nine such amendments were held from 1952 to 2004, many of which came with equal household verification and even in some cases a ‘de novo’ electoral role. However, the EC rarely ordered a full state intensive amendment in a state 4-6 months before the assembly elections, as is with Bihar.

Factor final such examples: In June 2004, ECI ordered ‘Intensive amendment of electoral rolls‘In seven northeastern states and Jammu and Kashmir.

Also, it gave an order ‘Special summary amendment‘Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Urisa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil prevalent & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Delhi NCT, Delhi NCT, Lakshadwip and Panditeri.
Bihar 2025- A unique case
In Bihar, 2025 heads are different in many cases. While a ‘intensive’ amendment includes mostly a ‘de novo’ exercise, portrays a fresh electoral roll with scratches, Bihar sir is using the 2002-03 electoral roll as the base. At the same time, it includes a new pre-printed enumeration form, which includes normal home-to-house verification format and document submissions, associated with a ‘intensive’ amendment. It is also very different from the previous intensive modification exercise in terms of time.

The EC rarely ordered a full state and full-scale intensive amendment in a state 4-6 months before the scheduled assembly elections, as is with Bihar. Bihar witnessed its final intensive amendment in 2002, which was three years away from the assembly elections held in October 2005.
Similarly, when EC, on June 29, 2004, announced an intensive roll amendment in eight states, it chose to leave two states that were pending uniform intensive roll modifications. These were Arunachal Pradesh and Maharashtra where assembly elections were to be held in October 2004.
“In Arunachal Pradesh and Maharashtra, the general elections for the assemblies are to be held in the late 2004. Therefore, after the completion of the elections, the program will be announced in these two states,” EC Press read at 29.06.2004.
Instead, according to the September-December 2004 EC Newslator, a ‘Special Summary Amendment’ for Maharashtra was declared to Maharashtra before the October 2024 assembly poll.

The EC has actually amended ‘intensive’ in some areas of a state. In Tamil Nadu- Investigation reports indicated ‘deficiencies’ in 2002 at the time of intensive amendment of the electoral rolls-‘ deficiencies indicated- on October 19, 2004, the Poll Panel ordered a ‘Special Amendment of Intensive Nature with House-to-House Animration’ in 33 constitutions in 33 municipal areas in 33 municipal areas. Tirunelveli.

Following the Gujarat riots, on August 16,2002, ECI announced a repeat of the 2002 ‘intensive nature amendment’.