2 days ago
Delhi Draft Voter Roll Excludes 47 Lakh Names, Sparks Row
The Election Commission checked Delhi’s voter list and released a first draft.
About 47 lakh names were not included in the new list.
This reduced the listed voters from about 1.45 crore to about 97.5 lakh.
Officials said many people had moved away, could not be found, had died or appeared more than once.
The list also uses an “other” category whose meaning was not explained in full.
People whose names are missing can ask to be added back by filing Form 6.
They can make claims or objections until September 30, and hearings will take place until October 29.
The final voter list is expected on November 4.
Critics fear some real voters could be left out, while the Commission says the process allows corrections before the final list.
The Election Commission’s Delhi draft roll excludes 47,56,722 names, reducing the electorate from 1,45,10,299 to 97,53,577.
Officials identified 43,32,775 voters as shifted or unavailable, 1,41,535 as duplicate entries and 2,82,412 as deceased.
The broader ASDDO classification also includes absent and “other” cases, but the Commission has not provided a full category-wise breakdown.
Voters can file claims or objections, including Form 6 applications, from August 31 through September 30; hearings will continue until October 29.
The final Delhi electoral roll is scheduled for November 4, while critics warn genuine voters could be removed and Arvind Kejriwal has criticized the revision.
- Who
- Delhi voters, the Election Commission of India, Arvind Kejriwal and officials conducting the Special Intensive Revision.
- What
- A draft electoral roll excluded 47,56,722 names, or about 32.9% of Delhi’s previous electorate.
- Where
- Delhi, during the third phase of the Special Intensive Revision being conducted across 19 states and Union Territories.
- When
- The draft was released during the current revision; claims are open through September 30, hearings run until October 29 and the final roll is due November 4.
- Why
- The Commission said exclusions involved voters who were shifted, absent, deceased, duplicated or otherwise classified as no longer eligible at an address.
Critics and Political Opponents
Election Commission and Revision Process
Removal of genuine voters
Critics and Political Opponents
Critics are concerned that the large-scale exclusions could remove genuine voters and potentially affect electoral outcomes.
Election Commission and Revision Process
The revision provides a claims, objections and hearing process so voters can seek inclusion before the final roll is published.
Scale and classification
Critics and Political Opponents
The exclusion of nearly one-third of Delhi’s electorate and the unexplained “other” category have raised questions about how decisions were made.
Election Commission and Revision Process
The Commission says the exercise is intended to identify people who have died, moved away, are absent, are registered more than once or are otherwise no longer eligible at an address.
Political and legal concerns
Critics and Political Opponents
Arvind Kejriwal mocked the reduction, while wider political controversy has focused on whether the revision could influence elections.
Election Commission and Revision Process
The Supreme Court upheld the legality of the revision but said the exercise cannot be used by the Commission to decide whether a person is an Indian citizen.
Key facts
- Previous Delhi electorate
- 1,45,10,299 voters
- Voters in draft roll
- 97,53,577
- Names excluded
- 47,56,722, or about 47.7 lakh
- Reported exclusion categories
- 43,32,775 shifted or unavailable; 1,41,535 duplicate; 2,82,412 deceased
- Claims and objections
- August 31 to September 30, including Form 6 applications
- Hearings
- Scheduled through October 29
- Final roll
- Scheduled for publication on November 4
- Local variation
- Rohini accepted 83.4% of forms, while Tughlakabad accepted about 52.1%
Quotes
Arvind Kejriwal
Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief
“The Government of India is unnecessarily worried about the population. Through SIR, the Election Commission will reduce our country's population from 140 crore to 50 crore.”
NDTV
“The draft voter list for Delhi under the SIR has been released. Out of 1.5 crore, the names of 47 lakh voters are missing.”
NDTV
Sources
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