Lucknow: The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh has revealed a major reshaping of the state’s voter database, with nearly 28.9 million voters set to be removed from the rolls. This figure accounts for around 18.7 percent of the state’s total 154.4 million registered voters. The scale of the exercise has triggered widespread political debate and public concern across the state.
The development came to light after the deadline for submitting enumeration forms ended on Friday. According to the Election Commission, the revision aims to eliminate inaccuracies, duplication and outdated entries in the voter list to ensure cleaner and more credible elections.
Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa said that voters whose names are being deleted fall into five major categories.
Category-wise break-up of deletions
- Shifted voters: 12.6 million who have moved away from their registered address
- Absent voters: 8.373 million who were not found at their listed address
- Deceased voters: 4.6 million
- Duplicate entries: 2.37 million voters registered at more than one place
- Non-submission of enumeration forms: 0.957 million
Multiple registrations and urban impact
The SIR drive revealed that a large number of voters were either no longer residing at the given address or had their votes registered at multiple locations. The impact has been most significant in major urban centres such as Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Agra and Bareilly. Rapid urbanisation, migration for employment and changing residential patterns have led to serious discrepancies in voter records in these districts.
Missing legacy records, a key challenge
One of the biggest challenges for the Election Commission is the case of nearly 11.1 million voters whose past records—dating back to the 2003 electoral rolls—are missing. No family details are available for these voters, making verification difficult. After the draft electoral roll is published on December 31, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) will issue notices to such voters.
These individuals will be required to prove their citizenship and identity by submitting any one of the 12 documents prescribed by the Election Commission. Officials have clarified that Aadhaar alone will not be sufficient and must be accompanied by at least one additional identity document.
Key dates ahead
- December 31: Publication of draft electoral roll
- December 31 – January 30: Period for filing claims and objections
- Till February 21: Issuance of notices and verification of voters with missing records
- February 28: Publication of final electoral roll
Option to reapply through Form-6
Voters whose names have been deleted or those who failed to submit enumeration forms can reapply by filling Form-6, along with a sworn affidavit where applicable. New voters who will turn 18 years of age on or before January 1, 2026, can also apply using the same form.
Analysis: Cleansing exercise or political flashpoint?
While the Election Commission maintains that the SIR drive is a routine and necessary exercise to maintain the integrity of electoral rolls, the sheer scale of proposed deletions—nearly one-fifth of the electorate—has raised eyebrows. Opposition parties are expected to scrutinise the process closely, particularly in urban constituencies where deletions are highest and electoral margins are often tight.
Experts note that while removal of duplicate, deceased and shifted voters strengthens democracy, the success of the exercise will depend on transparency, adequate public awareness and fair grievance redressal. With crucial elections on the horizon, the final electoral roll published on February 28 is likely to play a decisive role in shaping Uttar Pradesh’s political landscape.