Supreme Court to Hold Urgent Hearing on Bihar's Voter Roll Revision
The Supreme Court will hold an urgent hearing on July 10 to address petitions challenging Bihar's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The SIR, which began on June 28, requires nearly 2.93 crore voters to produce documents proving their and their parents' birth date and place. Petitioners, including opposition MPs and activists, argue the hasty process and stringent documentation rules risk disenfranchising crores of poor and marginalized citizens ahead of state polls, prompting top court intervention.
Unpacked:
The Election Commission launched the SIR citing urbanisation, migration, and concerns about foreign nationals being listed as voters. The revision is intended to update and ensure the accuracy of Bihar’s voter rolls ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, and is the first such exercise since 2003.
Voters must submit documents based on their age: those born before 1987 must prove their birth date or place, those born 1987–2004 need their own birth proof and one parent’s citizenship, and those born after 2004 must provide documents for themselves and both parents. Exemptions apply for voters listed in the 2003 rolls, who only need to submit an enumeration form.
Critics, including opposition parties and activists, argue that the SIR’s stringent documentation requirements and the short verification timeline risk disenfranchising millions—especially poor and marginalized citizens who may lack the necessary documents or awareness about the process.
Voters can submit appeals and corrections between August 1 and September 1 if their names are omitted or there are errors. The process involves Booth Level Officers and Agents accepting forms and guiding voters, but concerns remain about accessibility and the effectiveness of grievance redressal mechanisms.