The Election Commission of India (ECI) has removed approximately 5.18 crore names from electoral rolls during the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, aiming to improve the accuracy and integrity of voter lists.
Following the revision, the total number of registered voters now stands at 45.81 crore, marking a 10.2% reduction.
Large-Scale Clean-Up of Electoral Rolls
According to official data, the deletions include over 60 lakh names of deceased individuals. Specifically, around 66.88 lakh deceased electors were removed to ensure that voter lists reflect current and eligible citizens.
Among states, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of removals, with approximately 25.47 lakh names deleted. West Bengal followed with about 24.16 lakh deletions.
States Covered in Phase Two
The second phase of the SIR exercise covered 12 states and Union Territories, including:
- Uttar Pradesh
- West Bengal
- Tamil Nadu
- Rajasthan
- Chhattisgarh
- Kerala
- Puducherry
- Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Lakshadweep
- Gujarat
- Madhya Pradesh
- Goa
The revision process concluded with the release of final electoral rolls for Uttar Pradesh.
What Happens Next
The third and final phase of the SIR exercise will cover the remaining 40 crore electors across multiple states and Union Territories, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, and Odisha, among others.
This phase will begin after the completion of ongoing assembly elections in key regions such as Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry.
Objective of the Revision Exercise
The SIR initiative aims to:
- Remove duplicate, deceased, or ineligible entries
- Improve electoral roll accuracy
- Strengthen transparency in the voting process
Election officials emphasised that maintaining updated voter lists is essential for ensuring free, fair, and inclusive elections.
