The Election Commission is releasing the draft Special Intensive Revision (SIR) rolls for Delhi and Maharashtra, revealing that millions of voters are currently missing. Eligible citizens have until September 30 to file claims and objections.
- Approx. 4.77 million voters in Delhi and 20.7 million in Maharashtra excluded from draft rolls.
- Exclusions primarily due to death, duplication, and failed physical verification.
- Claim and objection window open from August 31 to September 30, 2026.
- Delhi's final electoral roll to be published on November 4, 2026.
The Election Commission of India has initiated a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Delhi and Maharashtra. The draft rolls, scheduled for release on Monday, indicate a massive scale of omissions. In Delhi, approximately 4.77 million voters are missing from the list, while Maharashtra sees a staggering 20.7 million names excluded.
In the national capital, Delhi, where there are 14.5 million registered voters, only 9.75 million records were successfully digitized following door-to-door verification. The remaining 4.77 million were omitted due to various reasons, including being deceased, having moved to another location, duplicate entries, or being absent during the verification process.
The situation in Maharashtra is even more pronounced. According to the Chief Electoral Officer's office, 20.7 million voters' forms could not be processed in time, leading to their absence from the draft roll. Analysis reveals that about 3.4 million of these were deceased voters and 1.7 million were duplicate records across multiple constituencies.
BozokMedia analysis shows that while this aggressive purging of the rolls is essential for eliminating 'ghost voters' and preventing electoral fraud, the sheer volume of omissions could lead to widespread disenfranchisement if the grievance redressal mechanism is not seamless. This process highlights the gap between traditional registration and the move toward a fully digitized, verified electoral database.
"The integrity of an election depends entirely on the accuracy of the voter list; a clean roll is the first step toward a transparent democracy."
The Election Commission has emphasized that the draft list is not final. Eligible voters whose names are missing can apply for inclusion using Form-6. This application can be submitted both online and offline. The window for claims and objections remains open until September 30, 2026.
| State | Potential Omissions | Primary Reasons | Final Roll Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 4.77 Million | Verification gaps, death, duplicates | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Maharashtra | 20.7 Million | Unsubmitted forms, death, duplicates | TBA |
Q1: Does my name being missing from the draft roll mean I cannot vote?
A: No, this is a preliminary list. You can restore your name by filing a claim before September 30.
Q2: Which form should I use to add my name back to the list?
A: You must fill out Form-6 to apply for the inclusion of your name in the electoral roll.
