Following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR), approximately 28.66 lakh voters have been excluded from Pune's draft electoral roll. Citizens have until September 30 to file claims or objections to reclaim their voting rights.
- 28,66,481 voters have been excluded from the draft electoral roll in Pune district.
- The total voter count dropped from 90.8 lakh to 62.13 lakh.
- The deadline for filing claims and objections is September 30, 2026.
- The final electoral roll will be published on November 4, 2026.
The publication of Maharashtra’s draft electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) on Monday has revealed a massive purge in Pune district. Across 21 Assembly constituencies, 28.66 lakh names have been excluded from the current draft. The exercise, overseen by Collector Jitendra Dudi and Deputy District Election Officer Minal Kalaskar, aims to sanitize the voter database with October 1, 2026, as the qualifying date.
Before the SIR exercise, Pune district boasted 90,80,173 voters. The current draft roll now stands at 62,13,692, comprising 31,51,297 men, 30,62,012 women, and 383 transgender voters. The exclusions are primarily due to voters being marked as absent, shifted, deceased, or identified as duplicates during the verification survey.
Breakdown of Exclusions
The administration has categorized the 28,66,481 excluded entries under the ASD (Absent, Shifted, Dead/Duplicate) list. The specific breakdown is as follows:
| Category | Number of Voters Excluded |
|---|---|
| Absent | 17,83,058 |
| Shifted | 5,91,038 |
| Deceased | 3,12,048 |
| Duplicate | 1,43,975 |
| Others | 36,362 |
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that while this massive cleanup is essential for eliminating ghost voters and ensuring electoral integrity, the sheer scale of deletions—nearly 31% of the total roll—could lead to significant disenfranchisement if the public remains unaware. This move signals a shift toward a more rigorous, data-driven approach to voter registration, but it places the burden of verification squarely on the citizen.
"The integrity of an election is only as strong as the accuracy of its voter roll; however, the process must remain inclusive to prevent systemic exclusion."
Furthermore, the administration has flagged 13,32,418 cases for mandatory hearings. These include 5,77,821 entries with discrepancies and 7,54,597 entries that lack mapping or linkage with the 2002 electoral roll. Decisions on whether to retain these names will be made by the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) after these hearings.
A month-long window is now open from August 31 to September 30 for voters to rectify their status. New voters can use Form 6, objections can be filed via Form 7, and corrections or EPIC applications can be processed through Form 8. The administration will review these claims until October 29.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What should I do if my name is missing from the draft roll?
A: You should immediately apply for inclusion as a new voter using Form 6 before the September 30 deadline.
Q2: How can I check my name in the voter list online?
A: Visit the official ECI portal at electoralsearch.eci.gov.in and search using your EPIC number or personal details.
