A massive discrepancy has emerged in Delhi's draft voter rolls, where thousands of citizens who submitted official forms are being marked as 'absent' or 'shifted'.
- Thousands of voters in Delhi found their names missing from the draft electoral roll.
- Many who submitted SIR forms are being incorrectly marked as 'permanently shifted' or 'untraceable'.
- Approximately 47.56 lakh names were removed at the draft stage.
NEW DELHI: The publication of Delhi's draft electoral roll under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive has triggered widespread confusion and outrage. Numerous voters have discovered that despite submitting their enumeration forms to Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and having those forms digitized, their names have been omitted from the rolls.
Investigations reveal that these voters are being categorized under the ASDD list—which stands for 'Absent', 'Shifted', 'Dead', and 'Duplicate'. Many legitimate residents are being flagged as 'permanently shifted' or 'untraceable' without any valid grounds.
The Scale of the Discrepancy
According to official statements, a staggering 47.56 lakh names were removed during the draft stage due to enumeration forms not being received by BLOs. An analysis of the ASDD list shows that 31.59 lakh, or roughly 66%, of these removals were categorized as 'permanently shifted'. This is significant given that Delhi's total registered electorate stands at approximately 1.45 crore.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that this systemic failure undermines the integrity of the electoral process. When digitized and signed forms do not translate into active voter status, it suggests a profound breakdown in the chain of accountability between field officers and the central database.
The administrative ambiguity regarding why verified voters are being marked as 'shifted' creates a massive barrier to democratic participation.
Voices from the Ground
In Mehrauli, 56-year-old Jitendra Kumar, a long-term voter, found himself marked as 'permanently shifted'. Shockingly, out of 907 registered voters at his local booth, 896 have been marked as shifted. In Timarpur, election researcher Ashish Ranjan expressed frustration, noting that while his status shows 'successfully submitted' on the EC portal, he has been excluded from the draft roll.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What should a voter do if their name is missing?
The Election Commission advises submitting 'Form 6' during the claims and objections period, which ends on September 30.
2. Why are names being marked as 'shifted' incorrectly?
Officials have stated the reasons for such discrepancies are currently 'unknown', pending clarity from Electoral Registration Officers.
| Category | Number of Names Removed | Percentage/Note |
|---|---|---|
| Total Removed (Draft Stage) | 47.56 Lakh | Due to non-receipt of forms |
| Marked 'Permanently Shifted' | 31.59 Lakh | 66% of removals |
| Total Electorate Base | 1.45 Crore | Delhi Total |
