Over Two Crore Voters Removed from Draft Lists in Maharashtra and Delhi

In a significant move as part of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls, over two crore individuals have been struck off from the draft voter lists in Maharashtra and Delhi. On Monday, officials confirmed that Maharashtra saw a staggering removal of 21.1% from its previous voter base, translating to more than two crore persons. In the capital city, the figure was equally alarming, with 47.7 lakh names—33% of the Union Territory’s electorate—erased from the draft list.

The reason behind this mass deletion of voter names includes a mix of factors. Individuals marked for removal have been categorized as permanently moved, deceased, absent, duplicate entries, or placed under an ‘other’ category for those who declined to complete the enumeration form. This exercise is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring that only eligible voters are included in future elections.

Maharashtra’s Pune district recorded the highest number of deletions at an alarming 28.6 lakh, followed closely by Thane with 28.5 lakh and Mumbai Suburban at 26.5 lakh. Meanwhile, in Delhi, Tughlakabad topped the list with a shocking deletion rate of 52.1%. These numbers highlight specific areas where the voter base has drastically changed, signaling the need for community engagement and awareness regarding the electoral process.

Despite the deletions, voters in both states have the opportunity to contest their removal. Claims and objections can be filed against the exclusions from the draft list from August 31 to September 30, with appeals being reviewed by October 29. A final electoral roll is set to be published on November 4, aiming for a comprehensive and accurate representation of eligible voters.

This revision is part of a larger initiative involving 19 states and Union Territories in the third phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The exercise began in 2025 with the first phase implemented in Bihar, followed by expansions to twelve more states. Such revisions are essential for fostering democratic engagement and ensuring that elections reflect the current demographic landscape.

Source: scroll.in