Amidst the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) row in Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is actively encouraging citizens to verify the electoral rolls, emphasizing the importance of an accurate and inclusive voter list. This initiative comes in the wake of concerns raised regarding the exclusion of a significant number of voters from the draft electoral roll published on August 1, 2025. The ECI has been facing criticism and legal challenges regarding the SIR process, with petitioners arguing that it could disenfranchise eligible voters.

To address these concerns and ensure transparency, the ECI is posing five key questions to every citizen, prompting them to actively participate in the verification process:

1. Is your name correctly spelled in the voter list? This ensures that personal details are accurately recorded, preventing potential issues during voting.
2. Is your photograph correctly displayed? A correct photograph is essential for voter identification and helps prevent impersonation.
3. Is your address accurately reflected in the voter list? Accurate address information ensures that voters are registered in the correct constituency.
4. Are the details of your family members correctly entered? Verifying family details helps in identifying and rectifying any discrepancies within the household.
5. Do you know of any deceased or permanently shifted voters still listed? Reporting such cases helps in removing ineligible voters from the list, ensuring a clean and updated electoral roll.

The ECI has implemented several measures to facilitate this verification process. Citizens can check their details online through the ECI website or mobile applications. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are also conducting door-to-door verification drives to assist citizens. The ECI is encouraging political parties to appoint Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to aid in the verification process. The Supreme Court has directed the ECI to accept Aadhaar as identity proof from deleted voters applying for inclusion. The ECI has clarified that Aadhaar is not conclusive proof of citizenship.

The ECI has assured the Supreme Court that it will ensure that "not one voter will fall through the cracks" during the SIR process. The Supreme Court has emphasized that the entire exercise must be voter-friendly and has allowed excluded voters to submit their claims online or physically, using Aadhaar or any of the eleven prescribed documents. The court has directed political parties to assist excluded voters in filling out claim forms. The ECI has stated that individuals whose names are missing from the draft electoral roll can submit an application for inclusion during the claims and objections period.

The ongoing SIR in Bihar is the first such exercise since 2003 and aims to update the electoral rolls in light of urbanization, youth enrolment, and migration. The ECI believes that a pure, healthy, and inclusive electoral roll is the foundation of free, fair, and credible elections. The commission is making all-out efforts to achieve this within the framework of the Constitution and relevant laws.

The Supreme Court has acknowledged the concerns raised about the exclusion of voters but has also noted that a significant number of voters have responded to the SIR, suggesting that the theory of widespread disenfranchisement may be overstated. The court has expressed hope that the ECI will address the remaining issues and ensure that all eligible voters are included in the final electoral roll.