Election Commission Assures No Bihar Voters Removed Without Notice Amid Roll Revision

The Election Commission of India has assured the Supreme Court that no eligible voter in Bihar will be removed from the electoral rolls without prior notice and an opportunity to be heard amid controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list ahead of upcoming assembly elections. The Commission highlighted strict adherence to natural justice principles, including issuance of reasoned orders and a two-tier appeal system to protect voters' rights. It emphasized extensive measures taken to include all eligible voters, such as house-to-house visits, political party participation, awareness campaigns, and assistance for vulnerable groups lacking documentation. The draft electoral roll published on August 1 included over 7.24 crore out of 7.89 crore electors who submitted enumeration forms, with ongoing scrutiny shared with political parties to ensure transparency. Opposition parties have criticized the revision process, alleging potential disenfranchisement of marginalized communities and describing it as a partisan 'vote theft' effort. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the Supreme Court continues to undermine the Voting Rights Act, eroding protections that have historically defended voter access and enabling greater barriers to voting rights litigation.