The Supreme Court of India has issued a significant ruling regarding voter eligibility for the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal, scheduled for April 23 and 29, 2026. The court has directed that individuals cleared by appellate tribunals for inclusion in the electoral rolls at least two days before polling will be entitled to vote. This decision marks a departure from the previous stance that barred voters with pending appeals from participating, which was seen as a potential disruption to the electoral process. The court invoked its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to ensure that eligible voters can exercise their franchise. The appellate tribunals must resolve appeals by April 21 for the first phase and April 27 for the second phase of polling. This ruling is particularly significant as the electoral rolls had already been frozen on April 6 and April 9, respectively, potentially disqualifying many voters. The court emphasized that merely having a pending appeal does not grant voting rights, aiming to uphold the integrity of the electoral process while allowing for necessary inclusions. The ruling comes amid a backdrop of over 3.4 million appeals filed regarding voter eligibility, highlighting the extensive judicial effort involved in the electoral roll revision process.