Our Bureau
New Delhi
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has removed nearly 1.7 crore voters, about 8% of the total, from the final electoral rolls across six states and three Union Territories as part of the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), aimed at cleansing voter lists ahead of the 2026 qualifying date.
Final rolls for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, and Goa were published on February 21, following Gujarat (February 17), and Puducherry and Lakshadweep (February 14), reducing the total electors from 21.45 crore to around 19.75 crore. Gujarat saw the highest deletions at 13.4%, followed by Andaman and Nicobar at 16.87%, Chhattisgarh (11.77%), and Goa (10.76%). Kerala recorded the lowest at 3.22%, with Madhya Pradesh (5.96%), Rajasthan (5.74%), Puducherry (7.5%), and Lakshadweep (0.36%) in between.
The SIR exercise, covering 12 states and UTs with over 51 crore electors, targets duplicates, deceased voters, migrants, and those shifting without updates, ensuring accurate rolls for future polls. Deletions stem from door-to-door verification and claims/objections periods, with the ECI emphasizing transparency amid past controversies.
Remaining states face delays: Tamil Nadu’s final roll, released February 23, deleted nearly 97 lakh voters, leaving 5.67 crore electors. West Bengal’s publication is set for February 28, following Supreme Court intervention deploying judges for disputed claims. Uttar Pradesh’s list is postponed to April 10 due to extensions.
