The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has informed the Supreme Court that Bihar’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls may disenfranchise approximately 94 lakh eligible adults. ADR asserts the draft rolls currently list 7.24 crore electors, whereas Bihar’s adult population is estimated at 8.18 crore as of July 2025.

The civil liberties group also alleged serious procedural irregularities: electoral registration officers (EROs) and booth-level officers (BLOs) have reportedly uploaded forms without voter consent—including entries for dead individuals, and voters who did not fill or sign forms themselves. With each ERO handling over 3 lakh submissions, ADR cautioned that due diligence is virtually impossible, enabling unchecked discretion and risking wrongful deletions.

ADR argues that the SIR’s requirement for fresh citizenship proof even from long-standing voters contradicts the Supreme Court’s 1995 Lal Babu Hussain ruling, which exempts existing electors from such documentation obligations. The organization warned that those lacking mandated documents—particularly from poor, marginalized, or migrating communities—face high disenfranchisement risk.

The Supreme Court is set to hear the petitions on July 28, while the draft roll is scheduled for publication on August 1, followed by a correction window until September 1; final voters’ list must be finalized by September 30, just weeks before the assembly polls.