The Election Commission has extended the deadline for Uttarakhand's Special Intensive Revision (SIR), with four districts accounting for 85% of all name deletion requests. The final voter list is now set for release on October 3.
- Over 1.3 lakh Form-7 applications for name deletions were filed in Uttarakhand.
- Four districts (Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar, Dehradun, and Nainital) represent 85% of these requests.
- The deadline for claims and objections has been extended by 17 days to September 28.
- The final electoral roll will now be published on October 3.
In a significant administrative move, the Election Commission has extended the timeline for disposing of claims and objections under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Uttarakhand's electoral rolls. The deadline has been pushed by 17 days, meaning the final voter list will now be published on October 3, instead of the previously scheduled September 15.
Data accessed by investigative reports reveals a massive volume of Form-7 applications—requests to delete names from the voter list. Out of a total of 1,30,382 applications received across the state, a staggering 85% are concentrated in just four districts: Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar, Dehradun, and Nainital. Udham Singh Nagar alone accounts for 43,878 applications, nearly 34% of the state's total.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that this high concentration of deletion requests in specific districts could stem from large-scale demographic shifts, migration, or the massive identification of 'Absent, Shifted, or Dead' (ASD) voters. Accurate voter rolls are the bedrock of democracy; any error in this high-stakes revision could lead to disenfranchisement or electoral disputes.
The extension is a necessary step to ensure that the massive backlog of verification does not result in the accidental deletion of legitimate voters.
Uttarakhand’s Chief Electoral Officer, BVRC Purushottam, confirmed that the additional time is being utilized to complete the disposal of pending claims. Currently, a significant backlog exists, with 86,250 Form-7 applications still under process. This includes 34,903 pending cases in Udham Singh Nagar alone.
Historical Background: The revision process follows a draft roll publication on July 14, which showed roughly 71.33 lakh electors—nearly 8.25 lakh fewer than the 2022 Assembly election figures. This discrepancy triggered a massive enumeration and verification drive to clean up the rolls from ghost voters and duplicates.
| District | Total Form-7 Apps | Pending Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Udham Singh Nagar | 43,878 | 34,903 |
| Haridwar | 29,369 | 17,554 |
| Dehradun | 19,402 | 11,262 |
| Nainital | 18,301 | 11,498 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why was the voter list publication date delayed?
The delay was implemented to allow officials to process a massive backlog of over 86,000 pending claims and objections.
2. What is the ASD category in voter rolls?
ASD stands for 'Absent, Shifted, or Dead,' representing voters identified as no longer residing at their registered address.
