ECI Informs Supreme Court: Bihar Voters Excluded from Rolls Asked to Link Aadhaar with Claims

Rapid Summary

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) informed the Supreme Court about measures taken to help Bihar voters excluded from the draft electoral roll.
• Approximately 65 lakh electors were not included in the draft roll during Bihar’s ongoing special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Reasons include voter death, relocation, or duplicate entries.
• The ECI published these excluded names online on district websites and displayed physical copies at panchayat bhavans, block growth offices, and panchayat offices for public access.
• Advertisements regarding online availability of the lists have been issued across major newspapers, on radio, television, and social media platforms.
• Voters have the option to submit Aadhaar cards as proof of identity and residence along with claims for inclusion in the electoral roll.
• The Supreme Court highlighted voters’ “right to know” as essential for preserving their Constitutional right to vote. It directed a high degree of clarity to inspire public confidence.
• Names featured earlier this year in January 2025’s electoral rolls but were dropped despite a summary revision process being conducted mere months ago.
• Aadhaar usage was formally directed by court order as proof during this SIR exercise.

Indian Opinion analysis

The Supreme Court’s intervention reflects an urgent focus on safeguarding democratic processes amidst allegations of major exclusions from bihar’s electoral rolls. By mandating greater transparency through public access-both online and offline-to exclusion lists alongside reasons provided by authorities such as relocation or duplication efforts highlight governance attempting avoiding widespread disenfranchisement ground concerns within system integrity arise critical question emerges examining rectifying/inclusion paths sufficiently equitable clear bolster boosts challenges underlining debates reliance emerging streamlining reforms Aadhaar-linked identification optimizing fairness accuracy.keras awaiting clarifications read