Massive Voter Roll Cleanup: 6.5 Crore Names Removed in Electoral Revision

Significant Changes in Electoral Rolls

New Delhi: Recently, the Election Commission has announced the removal of 6.5 crore names from the draft electoral rolls across nine states and three Union territories as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Prior to the commencement of Phase 2 of the SIR on October 27, the total number of electors in the 12 states and UTs was recorded at 50.90 crore.

Following the release of the new draft rolls, this figure has decreased to 44.40 crore.

Officials from the Election Commission indicated that the names removed have been categorized under 'ASD', which stands for absent, shifted, and dead or duplicate.

They also noted that the collection of enumeration forms has been significantly lower in urban areas compared to rural regions within the states and UTs involved in the SIR process.

In Uttar Pradesh, the draft electoral roll published on Tuesday revealed that 2.89 crore voters were excluded, leaving 12.55 crore on the list.

This exclusion represents 18.70 percent of the previously listed 15.44 crore voters, attributed to reasons such as deaths, permanent migration, or multiple registrations, as explained during a press conference.

Phase II of the SIR is currently underway in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, having started on November 4.

In Assam, a distinct 'special revision' of electoral rolls is also taking place.

The latest SIR will establish the cut-off date, similar to how the 2003 voter list of Bihar was utilized by the Election Commission for intensive revision.

Most states last conducted an SIR of their voter lists between 2002 and 2004.

The primary objective of the SIR is to eliminate foreign illegal migrants by verifying their places of birth, a move that has gained importance amid ongoing crackdowns on illegal migrants from countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar.