Uttar Pradesh Draft Electoral Roll Sees Deletion of 2.89 Crore Voters After Special Revision
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday released the draft electoral roll of Uttar Pradesh following the completion of the enumeration phase under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, leading to the deletion of around 2.89 crore voters from the state’s voter list.
According to Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa, the total number of electors has dropped from 15.44 crore to 12.55 crore, marking a reduction of 18.7 per cent, or nearly one in every five voters.
Why Were Voters Deleted?
The ECI clarified that the deletions were based on data collected during the enumeration process, which concluded on December 26, 2025. The reasons for removal include:
Deceased voters accounted for around 46.23 lakh names, representing nearly 3 per cent of the total deletions.
Voters who had shifted their residence formed the largest group, with 2.17 crore names, or 14.06 per cent, removed.
Duplicate entries resulted in the deletion of 25.46 lakh voters, around 1.65 per cent.
In its official statement, the ECI said that 12,55,56,025 electors submitted their Enumeration Forms during the revision process, reflecting what the Commission described as “overwhelming participation” in the first phase of the SIR.
Claims and Objections Window Open
The Election Commission stressed that the deletions are not final. Eligible voters whose names were removed can still be reinstated during the Claims and Objections period, which runs from January 6 to February 6, 2026.
Such voters can apply using Form-6, along with a declaration and relevant supporting documents, to have their names added back to the electoral roll.
Extension and National Context
The revision exercise in Uttar Pradesh was originally scheduled to end on December 11 but was extended by 15 days after authorities noticed that nearly 2.97 crore names were at risk of exclusion.
The ECI has recently completed similar SIR exercises in other states as well. Tamil Nadu saw a reduction of 97 lakh voters, Gujarat recorded a cut of 74 lakh, while Assam’s draft roll excluded 10.56 lakh names.
What Happens Next?
The final electoral roll will be published after the resolution of claims and objections. The ECI has reiterated that the objective of the SIR is to ensure accurate, updated, and transparent voter lists ahead of upcoming elections.
Our Thoughts
Large-scale revisions of electoral rolls inevitably raise concerns, but the availability of a claims and objections window is crucial. The effectiveness of this process will depend on awareness, accessibility, and timely resolution, especially in a politically significant state like Uttar Pradesh.