Voter lists shrink by more than 15% since 2024 in States where SIR phase-3 draft lists are out

Since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, voter lists in 17 States and Union Territories, undergoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in its third phase, have reduced by 15.7%, according to the draft rolls released by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The total number of voters in these areas dropped from 35,50,50,008 during the elections to 29,93,00,115 in the draft rolls after SIR.

Maharashtra experienced the most significant loss, with 15,896,198 electors or 17.08% fewer voters in the draft phase. Delhi and Chandigarh saw the steepest percentage decreases at 35.89% and 31.84%, respectively. Before the SIR phase, these States and Union Territories had added around 57.75 lakh voters, bringing the total to 36,08,07,394.

However, 6.15 crore voters have been deleted as per the draft rolls. Most additions after the LS polls were in Maharashtra (47.92 lakh voters) and 10 other States, including Haryana, adding about 9.83 lakh. Delhi had 1,52,14,638 voters during the LS polls but 1,45,10,299 pre-SIR electors, a loss of over 7 lakh. The third phase of SIR is ongoing in 16 States and three Union Territories, with final lists expected to be released soon, starting in Mizoram, Sikkim, and Manipur on September 6.

Among the deleted voters, only 1.11 crore are marked as dead, while 4.52 crore are absent, 49.58 crore have multiple enrolments, and around 3 lakh are in other categories. SIR is complete in Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.

In Assam, a "special revision" was conducted due to legalities related to the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The SIR exercise will cover the entire country, except for Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, after Phase-II of the Census and considering weather conditions in higher altitudes.