Maharashtra’s Electoral Roll Revision: Over 2 Crore Voters Removed from Draft List

In a significant move as part of the special intensive revision of electoral rolls, Maharashtra has removed more than two crore voters from its draft voter list. This extensive revision has resulted in a new draft roll that now lists 7.7 crore voters. The recent updates reveal that approximately 21.1% of the state’s previous voter base is no longer represented on the draft list, highlighting the scale of the changes made.

The removals from the voter list have been categorized under various reasons. Many individuals were marked as permanently shifted from their registered addresses, some were listed as deceased, and others were identified as duplicates. A notable group also includes those who did not participate in the enumeration process, placing them under the “other” category. This has raised concerns over the completeness and accuracy of the revised electoral rolls.

Pune district emerged as the area with the largest number of uncollected enumeration forms, totaling around 28.6 lakh. Following closely were Thane with 28.5 lakh and Mumbai Suburban with 26.5 lakh forms yet to be submitted. This situation underscores the challenges faced in reaching out to all eligible voters and ensuring their representation in the electoral process.

For those individuals whose names have been omitted from the draft rolls, the state has provided a window for filing claims and objections until September 30. The processing of these claims and objections, along with notifications, will continue until October 29, leading up to the final publication of the electoral roll scheduled for November 4. This timeline is crucial for maintaining voter engagement and ensuring that those affected have an opportunity to rectify their status.

This voter roll revision in Maharashtra is part of a broader initiative involving 19 states and Union Territories across India, undertaken in the third phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The first phase of SIR began in Bihar in 2025 and has gradually expanded to include various other regions. In a related development, a similar exercise in Delhi has resulted in the removal of 47.7 lakh voters from the draft electoral rolls, emphasizing the nationwide scope of this electoral reform.

Source: scroll.in