A major revision of electoral records in Uttar Pradesh has resulted in the removal of 2.89 crore voters from the draft electoral roll prepared under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. According to election officials, Lucknow has emerged as the district with the highest number of deletions, reflecting the scale of changes carried out during the state-wide exercise.
The Special Intensive Revision is a periodic process conducted to update voter lists by identifying and removing ineligible entries. These include names of deceased voters, duplicate registrations, individuals who have permanently shifted to other locations, and those who failed to meet eligibility criteria. Officials have stated that the exercise is aimed at improving the accuracy and credibility of electoral rolls ahead of future elections.
Authorities explained that urban districts such as Lucknow recorded a higher number of deletions due to factors like frequent migration, a floating population of students and professionals, and long-pending updates in voter records. Many names were reportedly removed after repeated verification attempts found voters untraceable or no longer residing at their registered addresses.
The revision process involved extensive door-to-door verification by booth-level officers, along with cross-checking voter data using official records. Based on this verification, names were marked for deletion in the draft list. Election officials have stressed that the current list is only a draft, and that no voter has been permanently removed at this stage.
Eligible voters whose names have been deleted can still apply for correction or re-inclusion by submitting claims and objections within the stipulated period. The Election Commission has urged citizens to verify their names and take timely action to avoid being left out of the final voter list.
The large-scale deletions have sparked political reactions, with some parties raising concerns about the potential exclusion of genuine voters. They have called on election authorities to ensure transparency and fairness in the process. Meanwhile, officials maintain that the revision follows established rules and safeguards to protect voter rights.
Election experts note that while the number of deletions appears high, such figures are not unusual during intensive revision drives, especially in populous states like Uttar Pradesh. They argue that regular updates are necessary to prevent irregularities and ensure smooth conduct of elections.
As the claims and objections window remains open, election officials are expected to conduct further scrutiny before publishing the final electoral roll. Voters across Uttar Pradesh are being encouraged to check their details and participate actively in the revision process, which authorities say is essential for maintaining the integrity of the democratic system.
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