The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday (Dec 23) published draft electoral rolls for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Kerala after completing an extensive Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, resulting in the removal of a substantial number of names across the three states.
According to official data released by the poll body, more than 42 lakh names were deleted in Madhya Pradesh, over 27 lakh in Chhattisgarh, and more than 22 lakh in Kerala after door-to-door verification and scrutiny of enumeration forms submitted by voters.
The publication of these draft rolls comes days after the ECI released similar figures for West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, where verification exercises led to the deletion of over 1.55 crore names, underscoring the scale of the nationwide voter roll clean-up.
The Special Intensive Revision is a periodic exercise undertaken by the Election Commission to ensure that electoral rolls remain accurate, updated and free from duplication or ineligible entries. The process involves house-to-house verification by booth-level officers (BLOs), collection of enumeration forms (EFs), and cross-checking of voter details.
The ECI has repeatedly stated that the objective of the SIR is twofold—to remove names of deceased voters, migrants and duplicate entries, and to ensure that all eligible citizens are given adequate opportunity to be enrolled before the final rolls are notified.
Kerala: Over 22 Lakh Names Deleted
In Kerala, the revision exercise resulted in the deletion of over 22 lakh voter names from the draft electoral rolls. Enumeration forms were collected from 2,54,42,352 electors, covering 91.35 per cent of the total electorate in the state.
The data showed that 6,49,885 voters (2.33 per cent) were identified as deceased, 14,61,769 electors (5.25 per cent) had either shifted residence or were found absent during verification, and 1,36,029 voters (0.49 per cent) were found to be enrolled at multiple locations.
Election officials said the high coverage of enumeration forms indicated effective field-level verification, though a significant number of names had to be removed to maintain the integrity of the rolls.
Madhya Pradesh: Over 42 Lakh Deletions
Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of deletions among the three states, with more than 42 lakh names removed from the draft voter list. Enumeration forms were collected from approximately 5.31 crore electors during the revision process.
The deletions included 8.46 lakh deceased voters, 31.51 lakh electors who had shifted residence or were not traceable, and 2.77 lakh voters found to be registered at multiple places.
Officials said the large number of migrants and untraceable voters reflected significant internal and inter-state mobility, particularly among urban and semi-urban populations.
Chhattisgarh: 27 Lakh Names Dropped
In Chhattisgarh, enumeration forms were collected from 1,84,95,920 electors. The SIR exercise led to the deletion of over 27 lakh names, including 6,42,234 deceased voters, 19,13,540 electors who had shifted or were absent, and 1,79,043 voters enrolled at multiple locations.
The ECI said the deletions were based strictly on field verification and documentary evidence gathered by booth-level officers during the revision process.
The Election Commission clarified that in several cases, booth-level officers were unable to locate electors or did not receive their enumeration forms because the individuals had migrated to other states or Union Territories, were not found to exist at the given addresses, failed to submit forms by the December 18, 2025 deadline, or voluntarily chose not to remain registered in their current constituencies.
The poll body emphasised that deletion from the draft roll does not amount to permanent disenfranchisement.
To safeguard the rights of genuine voters, the Election Commission has opened a claims and objections window from December 23, 2025, to January 22, 2026. During this period, voters whose names have been deleted can apply for re-inclusion, correction of details, or transfer of registration by submitting the required forms and documents.
The ECI has urged citizens to check the draft electoral rolls carefully and contact their respective BLOs or electoral offices in case of discrepancies.
The latest draft roll publication is part of a broader nationwide effort to strengthen electoral integrity. Earlier this month, the Election Commission released revised voter lists for West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, where verification led to the deletion of more than 1.55 crore names after cross-checking and field verification.
Officials said similar exercises may continue in other states to ensure that electoral rolls accurately reflect the current electorate ahead of future elections.
Reiterating its commitment to inclusive and transparent elections, the Election Commission said the Special Intensive Revision aims to strike a balance between preventing electoral malpractice and ensuring no eligible voter is left out.
“The objective is not to exclude genuine voters, but to maintain clean and credible electoral rolls,” the ECI said, adding that adequate opportunities are being provided to citizens to correct or restore their names before the final rolls are published.
The final electoral rolls will be notified after the conclusion of the claims and objections period, taking into account all valid applications received during the stipulated window.
