The Election Commission (EC) has issued a detailed clarification on the nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, after opposition parties alleged irregularities and demanded that the Chief Election Commissioner resign and all deleted names be restored.
According to the EC, voter identities of 95.40 crore people were verified in three phases across the country. Following the verification, 13.39 crore names were removed from electoral rolls for multiple reasons, including voters being untraceable, having permanently moved, being deceased, or being registered in more than one place.
The EC provided a category-wise breakup of deletions: 3.01 crore were listed as not found or untraceable, 6.30 crore as migrated, 2.80 crore as deceased, 1.02 crore as having votes in two places, and 26 lakh under other reasons.
It said the lists were prepared through field verification by over 10 lakh booth-level officers across states and shared booth-wise with around 22 lakh booth agents from recognised political parties. After the draft rolls were published, a one-month window was provided for objections and inclusion of missed names.
The EC added that eligible voters whose names were left out during SIR can seek re-inclusion through Form-6, and those still not included can appeal before the Collector or the Chief Electoral Officer. Despite the clarification, opposition parties have continued protests in Delhi, the EC noted.
