Over 22 Lakh Names Struck Off Voter Lists in Four Indian States Amid Revision Drive

The Election Commission of India has recently unveiled its draft electoral rolls for Odisha, Manipur, Mizoram, and Sikkim, resulting in the removal of over 22 lakh names from the voter lists. This action is part of a broader special intensive revision initiative aimed at updating and maintaining accurate electoral records across the country.

The recent deletions represent a significant 6.1% of the overall voter population in these states based on previous electoral rolls. This phase of the revision process involved meticulous verification and enumeration, particularly focusing on the accuracy of voter listings in the context of demographic changes.

In Odisha alone, more than 20 lakh entries were omitted from the electoral rolls. According to Chief Electoral Officer RS Gopalan, the reasons for these removals include approximately 8.3 lakh deceased individuals, around 10 lakh who have either relocated or were unavailable during the enumeration, and about 1.5 lakh cases involving individuals registered at multiple addresses. Furthermore, nearly 14,000 voters failed to submit their enumeration forms to the booth-level officers.

The Chief Electoral Officer emphasized the importance of public participation in this process, encouraging voters whose names do not appear in the draft electoral roll to lodge their claims or objections. This can be accomplished via the booth-level officers or through the ECINET mobile application and the official website voters.eci.gov.in. It is crucial for eligible voters to ensure their names are correctly listed to exercise their democratic rights in future elections.

As of May 20, when the electoral list was last frozen, Odisha reported a total of 3.3 crore registered voters. The ongoing revision exercise is part of a larger initiative spanning 16 states and three Union Territories, addressing discrepancies and enhancing the integrity of the electoral process. The Election Commission’s efforts aim not only to streamline the voting process but also to bolster voter confidence in the electoral system.

Source: scroll.in