The Supreme Court has ruled that voters in Bihar who have been excluded from the draft electoral rolls can file claims for inclusion using their Aadhaar card or any of the 11 documents accepted by the Election Commission of India (ECI). This decision comes amidst concerns regarding the exclusion of a significant number of voters during the Special Summary Revision (SIR) process in Bihar.

The court's directive aims to simplify the process for those who were left off the draft voter list. By allowing Aadhaar as a valid document, the Supreme Court has provided an accessible option for individuals to prove their identity and residence. In addition to Aadhaar, the ECI has a list of 11 other documents that can be submitted. The court has also clarified that applications can be submitted online, removing the necessity for physical submissions.

The Supreme Court has set a deadline of September 1, 2025, for filing claims and objections to the draft electoral rolls. To ensure that the information reaches those affected, the court has directed the ECI to publicize the procedure through newspapers, electronic media, and social media, emphasizing that the list will be available on the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar's website. The documents should also be searchable using EPIC numbers.

The Supreme Court has expressed its concern over the apparent lack of engagement from political parties in assisting voters who have been excluded. The court criticized the political parties for not helping the affected citizens despite having thousands of booth-level agents. The court has instructed the 12 recognized political parties in Bihar to direct their Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to assist voters in submitting their claim forms. The court also noted that acknowledgement receipts must be offered when forms are submitted.

During the proceedings, the ECI informed the court that lists containing the names of excluded voters, along with the reasons for exclusion, have been published on websites and at polling booths, as per the court's earlier directives. The lists have also been shared with the BLAs of political parties.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the Association for Democratic Reforms, raised concerns that excluded voters were being asked to fill out Form 6, which is intended for fresh inclusions rather than corrections. He requested the court to clarify that Aadhaar alone should suffice. The Court had previously refused to stop the ECI from publishing draft electoral rolls for Bihar on August 1.