Opposition parties have united in criticism, moving the Supreme Court to seek a stay on the SIR, arguing that it could disenfranchise millions of voters. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear these petitions on July 10.
EC officials emphasized that the revision covers all 7,89,69,844 registered electors in Bihar. Pre-filled enumeration forms containing details like the elector’s name, address, and old photo have been distributed to 7.69 crore voters, covering 97.42% of the electorate. Booth-level officers (BLOs) are conducting at least three household visits to collect completed forms, with the first visit completed and the second underway. During this process, many electors were found to have died, migrated, or shifted residence.
All electors who submit enumeration forms will be included in the draft electoral roll set to be published on August 1. Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) will compile the draft by including all forms received before July 25. Eligible voters can also submit documents during the claims and objections period ending September 1.
Eligibility criteria for inclusion in the voters’ list include Indian citizenship, being at least 18 years old on the qualifying date, ordinary residence in the constituency, and no legal disqualification. Any exclusion will follow a formal inquiry with speaking orders from the ERO, which can be appealed to the District Magistrate (DM) and subsequently to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).
After publishing the draft roll, EROs will verify eligibility based on documents and field reports. In cases of doubt, they will issue speaking orders after notifying the elector concerned. Aggrieved individuals may appeal ERO decisions to the DM, and further appeal to the CEO, in line with Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.