Source The Hindu
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday released the draft electoral rolls for Uttar Pradesh as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, revealing that 18.7 per cent of voters have been deleted compared to the previous rolls.
According to officials, the deletions were made after a detailed verification process aimed at improving the accuracy of the voter database ahead of upcoming elections. The revision exercise focused on removing duplicate entries, names of deceased voters, and electors who have permanently shifted out of their constituencies.
The ECI said the Special Intensive Revision was carried out in accordance with established guidelines, with booth-level officers (BLOs) conducting door-to-door verification and cross-checking records with available data sources. The Commission maintained that the objective of the exercise is to ensure a clean, transparent, and error-free electoral roll.
However, the sharp percentage of deletions has sparked political reactions, with opposition parties expressing concern over the possibility of genuine voters being excluded. Several leaders have demanded greater transparency in the process and have urged the Commission to ensure that no eligible voter is denied the right to vote.
The ECI has clarified that the publication of the draft roll is not the final step. Citizens whose names are missing or incorrectly recorded can file claims and objections within the stipulated period. After addressing these claims, the final electoral rolls will be published.
The Commission has appealed to voters in Uttar Pradesh to carefully check their details in the draft list and report any discrepancies to election officials or through the designated online portals to safeguard their voting rights.
