EC rejects Oppn’s ‘13 cr voters deleted’ claim

• ECI clarifies 13.39 crore voters were not deleted but categorised
• Data shows 6.30 crore shifted and 2.80 crore dead were identified
• Voters can re-apply via Form 6 or appeal to District Magistrates

The Election Commission has clarified its position on the Opposition’s allegation that more than 13 crore voters were deleted during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. According to ECI

data, a total of 95.40 crore voters were reviewed during the three phases of the SIR exercise. Of these, 13.39 crore voters were categorised under ASDD and other categories during the revision process. ASDD refers to voters who were found to be Absent, Permanently Shifted, Dead or Duplicate.

EC’S FIGURES

As per the Election Commission’s figures:

• Absent / Not Traceable: 3.01 crore
• Permanently Shifted: 6.30 crore
• Dead: 2.80 crore
• Duplicate: 1.02 crore
• Other Categories: 0.26 crore
• Total: 13.39 crore

THE CLARIFICATION

The Election Commission official said the ASDD lists were prepared after an extensive verification exercise by more than 10 lakh Booth Level Officers across the states. The ASDD lists were also provided booth-wise to more than 22 lakh Booth Level Agents of political parties.
The ECI official said voters were given one month to file claims and objections after the draft electoral rolls were published. During this period, eligible voters could seek inclusion of their names, while objections could also be filed against the inclusion of ineligible voters.
The Commission clarified that if a genuine voter’s name was inadvertently left out during the SIR process, the voter could seek inclusion through the claims and objections process and subsequently through Form 6.
The ECI further said that if a voter’s name was not included in the final electoral roll despite the prescribed process, the person could appeal before the District Magistrate or the Chief Electoral Officer, as applicable.
The Election Commission’s position comes amid Opposition allegations over the deletion of more than 13 crore names during the SIR exercise. The ECI maintains that the figures represent voters identified under different categories during the verification process and that eligible voters have been provided mechanisms to get their names included in the electoral rolls.