SIR trims 1.70 cr voters across nine states, three UTs: This state saw the highest drop

The updated rolls reflect a 7.93 percent decline.

The Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) has reduced the voter base by over 1.70 crore across nine states and Union territories where final electoral rolls have been published, according to official data released on Saturday.

The updated rolls reflect a 7.93 percent decline.

Data shared by the chief electoral officers of Gujarat, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goa and Kerala show that their combined electorate stood at over 21.45 crore before the SIR began on October 27 last year. After the publication of the final rolls this week, the number has fallen to 19.75 crore. This marks a net reduction of more than 1.70 crore electors.

These states saw the highest and the lowest drop

Among the larger states, Gujarat saw the sharpest decline, with its voter list shrinking by 13.4 per cent, or 68.12 lakh names, from 5.08 crore to 4.40 crore.

Madhya Pradesh recorded 34.35 lakh deletions, with its electorate dropping from 5.74 crore to 5.39 crore, a decline of 5.96 per cent. Rajasthan’s rolls fell by 31.36 lakh (5.74 per cent), from 5.46 crore to 5.15 crore.

Chhattisgarh saw a steeper proportional fall of 11.77 per cent, with 24.99 lakh names removed as its electorate declined from 2.12 crore to 1.87 crore.

Kerala registered the smallest drop among the larger states, with its voter base reducing by 3.22 per cent, or 8.97 lakh, from 2.78 crore to 2.69 crore. Goa’s rolls declined by 10.76 per cent, with 1.27 lakh names deleted.

Union territories and smaller regions

Among the Union territories, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands recorded the highest proportional fall at 16.87 per cent. The voter count dropped by 52,364 names, from 3.10 lakh to 2.58 lakh.

Puducherry saw a 7.5 per cent decline, with 77,367 names removed. Lakshadweep witnessed only a marginal drop of 206 voters, or 0.36 per cent.

Bihar and other states

If Bihar, where the SIR was conducted earlier ahead of Assembly elections, is included, total net deletions rise to 2.16 crore, or 7.37 per cent. Bihar’s electorate declined from 7.89 crore in June 2024 to 7.43 crore in September 2024.

The SIR is currently underway in 12 states and Union territories, covering nearly 60 crore electors. The remaining 40 crore voters will be covered in 17 states and five Union territories.

The rolls for Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh are yet to be fully released. Tamil Nadu’s final list is expected on Monday, while West Bengal’s will be issued in phases. Uttar Pradesh is scheduled to publish its roll on April 6.

In Assam, the Commission conducted a “Special Revision” instead of SIR, completing the exercise on February 10 due to legal issues related to the incomplete National Register of Citizens process. The final rolls list 2.49 crore voters, compared to 2.52 crore in the draft rolls. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Assam had 2.45 crore registered voters.

The SIR schedules in the nine states and three Union territories were revised multiple times for various reasons. As in Bihar, political parties have approached the Supreme Court challenging the exercise in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

During the SIR process, voters were permitted to apply for additions, corrections and deletions. As per officials, some names were removed where individuals could not provide the required documentation or where records could not be matched with earlier electoral rolls.