Uttar Pradesh has recently concluded a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of its electoral rolls, resulting in the removal of 2.89 crore names from the draft list. This significant reduction, representing 18.7% of the total electorate, has brought the revised voter count down to 12.55 crore. The Election Commission of India (ECI) initiated this revision to enhance the accuracy, transparency, and inclusivity of the voter database.
The primary reasons for the deletions include deaths, permanent migration, and multiple registrations. According to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa, 46.23 lakh voters (2.99%) were confirmed deceased, while 2.57 crore voters (14.06%) had either permanently migrated or were unavailable during verification. An additional 25.47 lakh voters (1.65%) were found to be registered at more than one location.
The SIR exercise, initially slated to end on December 11, 2025, was extended after officials observed a potentially high exclusion rate of nearly 2.97 crore voters. The state requested and received a 15-day extension, pushing the enumeration process to December 26, 2025.
This revision in Uttar Pradesh accounts for a significant portion of the nationwide deletions during the SIR. Across 12 states and Union Territories, a total of 6.5 crore names have been removed, with Uttar Pradesh contributing 43% to this figure. Compared to Uttar Pradesh's 2.89 crore deletions, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, which are also undergoing revisions, saw reductions of 97 lakh and 58 lakh voters, respectively. Gujarat's draft list was reduced by 74 lakh voters, while Assam's list was shortened by only 10.56 lakh voters.
The draft electoral roll is now available for public review, with a one-month period for claims and objections starting January 6 and continuing until February 6. During this time, voters can seek inclusion, request corrections, or raise objections to the draft roll. The final voter list is scheduled for publication on March 6, 2026.
The Election Commission has emphasized that the Special Intensive Revision is a routine yet essential exercise for maintaining updated and error-free electoral rolls. This ensures stronger democratic participation and accurate representation for every eligible citizen's vote.
