2 hrs ago
Election Commission Rejects Misleading 13-Crore Voter Deletion Claim
The Election Commission of India is checking and updating voter lists.
Some reports said 13 crore voters had been deleted.
The Commission said this is not correct because the number refers to people flagged for review in draft lists.
These people included voters who had died, moved, could not be found or were registered more than once.
The final voter lists have not yet been completed.
Political parties and voters can check the draft lists and raise objections.
The Commission also rejected claims that the process was being used to steal votes.
It said all three election commissioners agreed on the decisions.
The Commission said many young voters were also added during the exercise.
The Election Commission of India said the claim that 13 crore voters were deleted is misleading.
About 13 crore electors were classified as absent, shifted, dead or duplicate at the draft stage.
The Commission said draft rolls and ASDD lists were shared with political parties for verification.
The ECI rejected “vote chori” allegations and described the revision process as involving verification, objections and appeals.
The Commission said 2.37 crore Gen Z voters aged 18 to 28 had been added since June 24, 2025.
- Who
- The Election Commission of India, political parties, Booth Level Agents, election officials and voters.
- What
- The ECI rejected allegations of mass voter deletion, “vote chori” and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Where
- The process covers states and Union Territories, with specific deadline measures announced for Maharashtra.
- When
- The revision process began on June 24, 2025; the article also cites a Maharashtra deadline of October 12, 2026.
- Why
- The ECI said the revision is intended to include eligible voters and remove errors and ineligible entries from electoral rolls.
Critics’ Allegations
Election Commission’s Response
Voter deletions
Critics’ Allegations
Critics alleged that 13 crore voters had been removed from the electoral rolls.
Election Commission’s Response
The ECI said the figure represents draft-stage ASDD classifications, not confirmed deletions from final rolls.
“Vote chori”
Critics’ Allegations
Critics alleged that the Special Intensive Revision could be used for “vote chori.”
Election Commission’s Response
The ECI called the allegation misleading and pointed to field verification, political-party scrutiny, claims, objections and appeals.
Decision-making and databases
Critics’ Allegations
Allegations claimed that the Chief Election Commissioner bypassed the other commissioners and that electoral databases were being centralised.
Election Commission’s Response
The ECI said decisions were unanimous, state authorities continued maintaining electoral rolls, and ECINET merely supported officials’ statutory work.
Key facts
- Disputed figure
- Approximately 13 crore electors were classified as absent, shifted, dead or duplicate at the draft stage.
- Classification breakdown
- The ECI cited about 2.8 crore deceased voters, 3 crore absent or untraceable electors, 6.3 crore permanently shifted voters and nearly 1 crore duplicate registrations.
- Verification process
- Draft rolls and corresponding lists were shared with political parties and their Booth Level Agents.
- Young voters added
- Approximately 2.37 crore Gen Z voters aged 18 to 28 were added since June 24, 2025.
- Maharashtra deadline
- The claims-and-objections deadline was extended to October 12, 2026.
- Scheduled disposal
- Maharashtra notices and objections are scheduled to be resolved by November 10.
- Commission position
- The ECI said all decisions on the exercise were taken unanimously by its three members.
Sources
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