The Election Commission of India (ECI) has embarked on a comprehensive exercise to update and purify the electoral rolls across various states and Union Territories through its Special Summary Revision (SIR) process. This significant undertaking aims to ensure that voter lists are accurate, current,. And free from errors, duplicates, or entries of deceased or shifted voters. The latest phase of this revision has seen the release of draft voter lists for several regions, revealing a massive scale of name removals, with Madhya Pradesh being a prominent example.
Madhya Pradesh Leads with Significant Removals
The state of Madhya Pradesh has witnessed a substantial overhaul of its voter list. According to the draft voter list released by the Election Commission on Tuesday, a staggering 42. 74 lakh names have been removed from the state's electoral roll. This figure comprises 19. 19 lakh male voters and an even higher number of 23. 64 lakh female voters, indicating a broad impact across the demographic spectrum. The reasons for these removals typically include deceased voters, those who have shifted residence, duplicate entries, or individuals found to be missing from their registered addresses. Also, the draft list highlights that an additional 8, while 40 lakh names are currently unmapped, suggesting potential discrepancies or incomplete data that require further verification and resolution. This large-scale deletion underscores the Election Commission's commitment to maintaining a strong and accurate electoral database, crucial for the integrity of democratic processes.
Website Glitches Hamper Voter Search
The release of the draft voter list was unfortunately accompanied by technical difficulties on the official website, causing inconvenience for citizens attempting to verify their details, while upon accessing the website, users reported that while entering their Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number would prompt a captcha, submitting it didn't yield the expected voter details.
Instead, the system would repeatedly present the captcha, effectively preventing searches using the EPIC number. This technical snag forced users to resort to an alternative method: searching for voter details by entering their mobile number. This issue, though seemingly minor, can create significant hurdles for a large number of voters, particularly those who might not have their. Mobile numbers linked or prefer using their EPIC for verification, highlighting the need for strong digital infrastructure during such critical public exercises.
Upcoming Draft Lists for Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and Andaman & Nicobar
The Election Commission's revision efforts are ongoing, with more draft lists slated for publication, while following Madhya Pradesh, the EC is set to publish the draft voter lists for Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands today. Expectations are high for Chhattisgarh, where the number of names removed is also anticipated to be in the millions, mirroring the trend observed in other states. These upcoming releases are part of the continuous process to update electoral rolls, ensuring that they accurately reflect the eligible voting population in these regions. The publication of these lists will initiate a period for claims and objections, allowing citizens to verify their inclusion and make necessary corrections.
Kerala's Extensive Revision Ahead of Elections
Kerala, a state with significant electoral activity on the horizon, is undergoing a particularly extensive revision. The voter list prepared for the 2025 local body elections already indicates over 2. 86 crore registered voters. Under the Special Summary Revision (SIR), more than 99% of the state's electoral roll digitization has been completed, a crucial step towards modernizing and streamlining the process. This comprehensive digitization effort is expected to lead to the removal of approximately 25 lakh names from the voter list.
This revision is especially pertinent as the state prepares for its assembly elections, which are. Scheduled to be held in 2026 for all 140 seats of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. The accuracy of these lists will be paramount for ensuring fair and transparent elections at both local and state levels.
A Nationwide Effort: Over 2. 70 Crore Names Removed Across Seven States
The scale of the Special Summary Revision is truly national, with the Election Commission having previously released draft voter lists for seven other states: West Bengal, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Goa, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. Cumulatively, these states have seen the removal of over 2. 70 crore names from their draft electoral rolls due to various reasons. This massive clean-up operation underscores the Election Commission's proactive approach to maintaining the integrity of the democratic process by ensuring that only eligible voters are included in the final lists, while the significant numbers highlight the persistent challenges in keeping electoral rolls updated and the extensive work involved in rectifying discrepancies.
Detailed Removals in Key States
The breakdown of removals in these seven states provides further insight into the magnitude of the revision:
Tamil Nadu's Major Purge
Tamil Nadu has experienced one of the most significant purges, with over 97 lakh names removed from its draft electoral roll. Prior to the SIR, the state's voter count stood at 6. 41 crore. Following this extensive revision, the number has decreased to 5. 43 crore, while the updated list now comprises 2. 66 crore male voters, 2. 77 crore female voters, and 7,191 transgender voters, reflecting a substantial adjustment to the state's electoral demographics. This reduction highlights the rigorous verification process undertaken by the Election Commission to ensure the accuracy of voter data.
Gujarat's Substantial Reduction
Gujarat also saw a substantial reduction in its voter count, with over 73.
73 lakh names removed from the new SIR list. The state, which previously had over 5. 08 crore registered voters, now records 4, while 34 crore voters. This significant decrease indicates a thorough review of the electoral rolls, aimed at eliminating duplicate entries, deceased individuals, and those who have permanently shifted residence, thereby enhancing the reliability of the voter database.
West Bengal's Categorized Removals
West Bengal witnessed the removal of 58, while 20 lakh names from its voter list, with detailed categorization of the reasons behind these deletions. A substantial 24. 16 lakh names belonged to deceased voters, while 19, while 88 lakh voters had shifted to other locations. Also, 12. 20 lakh voters were categorized as missing, 1, while 38 lakh names were identified as duplicate or fake entries, and 57,604 names were removed due to other miscellaneous reasons. This detailed breakdown provides transparency into the various factors contributing to the large-scale revision, while
Rajasthan's Significant Deletions
Rajasthan's draft SIR list also reported a considerable number of deletions, with 41. 85 lakh voters' names removed. The draft list was accompanied by specific lists for absent, shifted, dead, and already enrolled voters, facilitating a clear understanding of the categories of removals and allowing for targeted verification by political parties and citizens, while
Goa's Targeted Revision
In Goa, out of 11. 85 lakh registered voters, 10. 84 lakh had submitted forms, indicating active participation in the revision process. Over 1 lakh names were removed from the list, including deceased, absent, permanently shifted, and duplicate voters, while specifically, 44,639 names were removed in North Goa, and 55,403 names were removed in South Goa, demonstrating a meticulous district-wise approach to the revision.
Puducherry's Electoral Roll Update
Puducherry's draft list saw the removal of over 1. 03 lakh names, bringing the total number of voters down to 9.
18 lakh. The highest number of deletions occurred in Puducherry district, but significant numbers of voters were also removed from the lists in Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam, indicating a comprehensive revision across the Union Territory.
Lakshadweep's Smaller Scale Revision
Lakshadweep, with its smaller population, also underwent a revision, while as of October 27, a total of 58,000 voters were registered. Following the release of the draft voter list, 56,384 voters' names were found to be included, meaning 1,616 names were removed from the list. This demonstrates that even smaller electoral constituencies are subject to the same rigorous verification process, while
Transparency and Safeguards in the Revision Process
The Election Commission emphasizes transparency and due process throughout the Special Summary Revision. The draft and final voter lists, along with the lists of. Claims and objections, are uploaded on the official website for public access. Crucially, these lists are also shared with political parties, enabling them to scrutinize the data, raise objections, and assist their constituents in verifying their details. This collaborative approach enhances the credibility of the electoral rolls.
Appeal Mechanism for Discrepancies
To safeguard against erroneous removals or omissions, a solid appeal mechanism is in place. If a voter's name is removed or not included, they've the right to appeal the decision, while initially, appeals can be made against the decision of the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) to the District Magistrate. Further appeals can then be made to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), ensuring multiple layers of review and redressal. This multi-tiered system provides a crucial avenue for citizens to protect their voting rights.
Due Diligence Before Name Removal
The Election Commission has stringent protocols to ensure that no legitimate voter is disenfranchised, while if a voter's documents don't match the records, the ERO is mandated to issue a notice to the concerned individual.
A thorough investigation is conducted following this notice, and only after a comprehensive inquiry is a decision made regarding the addition or removal of a name. A critical principle upheld by the EC is that no name will be removed without a proper hearing, ensuring that every voter has an opportunity to present their case and verify their eligibility, while this commitment to due process is fundamental to maintaining public trust in the electoral system. The ongoing Special Summary Revision is a testament to the Election. Commission's continuous efforts to uphold the sanctity of the electoral process. While the large number of name removals might seem daunting, it's a necessary step. To ensure that India's democratic foundations remain strong, built upon accurate and reliable voter lists. Citizens are encouraged to actively participate in the verification process, utilizing the available resources and appeal mechanisms to ensure their rightful place on the electoral roll.
