Patna: As the Election Commission gears up for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it has projected the population of Bihar to be 13.94 crore on January 1 next year in the just-published draft electoral roll of which 6.95 crore or around 50 per cent will be over 18 years of age.

However, the draft electoral roll shows the number of electors at over 6.97 crore, around 2 lakh more than the projected population figures on the qualifying date of January 1, 2019.

Among the electors, 3.70 crore are men, while over 3.27 crore are women. Around 2,300 transgenders have also been enlisted.

Talking about the anomaly in the figures, Bihar chief electoral officer (CEO) H.R. Srinivasa told The Telegraph: "The mismatch in the number of people over 18 years of age (the cut off at which they acquire the right to vote) and the number of electors in the draft electoral roll is because of absent, shifted or dead voters. Though we have deleted the names of over 3 lakh voters during continuous updates, many such names still remain. These issues would be addressed in the special summary revision of electoral rolls, which has started from September 1."

Though the sex ratio (number of women per 1,000 men) of the state is 918 according to the 2011 census, the ratio in the draft electoral roll is just 887 - indicating that a large number of girls and women are yet to be included in it.

It also denotes gender discrimination prevalent in the patriarchal society of the state, as well as, illiteracy, due to which girls and women in many families haven't been listed in the rolls.

Srinivasa said the last date to file claims and objections with regard to electoral roll is October 31.

These will be settled by November 30 and final electoral roll as per the eligibility cut-off date of January 1, 2019, will be published on January 4.

The draft electoral roll reveals that the age group of 30 to 39 years has 1.94 crore voters or 13.9 per cent - the maximum - followed by the 20 to 29 age group, which has 1.57 crore or 11.3 per cent of total voters.

Those in the age group of 40 to 49 are at the third spot with 1.46 crore voters, which is 10.5 per cent of total 6.97 crore voters.