Supreme Court Pushes for 'Mass Inclusion' in Bihar Voter Roll Revision
The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to accept Aadhaar and voter ID cards as valid identity documents for Bihar's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The court emphasized that the goal should be "mass inclusion, not en masse exclusion," addressing concerns that the exercise could disenfranchise up to 2.9 crore voters in the poll-bound state. While refusing to stay the publication of the draft roll, the court's intervention aims to prevent wrongful exclusion of eligible citizens.
Unpacked:
The SIR aims to comprehensively update the electoral rolls by including all eligible voters, removing ineligible names, and ensuring accuracy before Bihar's legislative assembly elections. This is done to address issues such as new eligible voters, migration, non-reporting of deaths, and to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.
Concerns stemmed from the scale of the revision and the risk that strict documentation requirements or errors could lead to large numbers of eligible voters—up to 2.9 crore—being omitted from the rolls, potentially disenfranchising them during a crucial election.
The directive allows voters to use either Aadhaar or voter ID cards as valid proof of identity, making it easier for more people to participate in the revision. This move is intended to prevent wrongful exclusion and promote greater inclusion in the electoral roll update.
The SIR began in June 2025, with forms to be submitted by July 25. The draft electoral roll will be published on August 1, 2025, and voters can file claims or objections about errors or omissions from August 1 to September 1 before the final roll is released.