Odisha's Draft Voter List Updated: Over 8 Lakh Deceased Voters Removed

Significant Changes in Odisha's Voter Registration

In Odisha, the draft voter list has seen the removal of approximately 832,000 deceased voters, 1,007,000 voters who have relocated, and 158,000 duplicate registrations. According to Sushant Kumar Mishra, the Additional Chief Electoral Officer, around 14,000 voters could not be included due to missing enumeration forms. He explained that the first category consists of individuals who have passed away, leading to their names being eliminated from the list. The second category includes voters who have either moved to different locations or are consistently absent. Additionally, there are cases of voters registered in multiple locations, accounting for the 158,000 duplicate registrations. The absence of enumeration forms is the reason for the exclusion of the 14,000 voters from the draft list.

Claim and Objection Period for Eligible Voters

Mishra stated that eligible voters have until August 4 to submit their claims and objections, with hearings on these applications expected to conclude by September 2. He emphasized that there is an additional month for individuals to file their claims and objections, and the hearings will be finalized by September 2. Voters have a two-month window to provide information, submit applications, and raise any claims or objections, with the deadline for claims and objections set for August 4.

Final Voter List Release Date

The draft voter list was published on July 5, 2026. State officials indicate that this initiative is part of a transparent and inclusive effort to maintain an updated voter database. After thorough verification of all claims and objections, the final voter list for Odisha will be released on September 6.