Bihar SIR exercise: Those left out of voters' list can use Aadhaar to submit claims, says EC

While the total voters are 7.89 crore, the first draft roll included 7.24 crore names.

Bihar Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh issued a notification saying those aggrieved at being left out of the draft voters’ list in Bihar should be allowed to file claims using their Aadhaar cards, accord

The Supreme Court recently said that those whose names have been struck off the state's voter lists can submit their Aadhaar cards to challenge this deletion.

“…All such voters, who are not included in the draft list, can get information about their entry in this list along with the reason through their EPIC number. The list related to such voters who are not included in the draft list published on 01.08.2025 has also been displayed at all block offices, panchayat offices, municipal bodies offices and polling stations, through which such voters can get information and information related to their entry along with the reason. Dissatisfied persons can submit their claim with a copy of their Aadhar card,” the Bihar CEO said in his order.

However, it is not mentioned whether such voters need to produce one of the 11 EC-mandated documents to get their names enrolled into the list again.

The Election Commission (EC) on Monday came out with the names of 65 lakh people who were removed from the draft electoral rolls published as part of the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise.

The development came in the backdrop of the Supreme Court's direction that details of the deleted names be made public by August 19 and a compliance report be filed by August 22.

Opposition parties have raised concerns over potential wrongful deletions during the SIR process. They have claimed that several people declared dead during the process, and have had their names deleted, are alive.

While the total voters are 7.89 crore, the first draft roll included 7.24 crore names. Of the 65 lakh names removed, records show that around 36 lakh had migrated permanently, while nearly 22 lakh were marked as deceased.