Nearly 22 lakh voters have been removed from draft electoral rolls in Odisha, Manipur, Mizoram, and Sikkim as part of the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision. Deaths and electors who have shifted residence account for most deletions, with Odisha seeing over 20 lakh removals. Manipur reported the highest proportion of anomalies.
India's Editors Guild has condemned the denial of voting and passport rights to former editor R Rajagopal, whose name was removed from the electoral roll in West Bengal during a controversial voter list revision by the Election Commission, an exercise critics say has disenfranchised millions.
Telangana's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls faces challenges as political parties flag gaps, especially in urban areas. Concerns linger over Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) physically reaching every voter, with inadequate household visits potentially leading to disputes over omissions.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has criticized the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging it could disenfranchise Muslims, women, migrants, and the poor. He claims the exercise is a precursor to identifying illegal immigrants and questioned the need for a review committee.
The Election Commission of India begins Phase 3 of its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, covering 16 states and 3 Union Territories, aiming to ensure only eligible voters are included, with the process concluding between September and December.
The SIR of electoral rolls became one of the most fiercely debated issues in the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, with the exercise significantly reshaping the state’s voter base before polling. Nearly 91 lakh names, around 12 per cent of the electorate, were removed during the revision process. Of these, more than 60 lakh voters were marked as deceased, while nearly 27 lakh cases remained pending or under scrutiny.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor raised concerns about the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, suggesting the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls may have influenced the BJP's victory. He highlighted the removal of 91 lakh names, with 34 lakh appeals pending adjudication, questioning the fairness of the process given the BJP's 30 lakh vote margin.
West Bengal witnessed a significant political shift as the BJP formed its first government, largely influenced by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This exercise, which removed nearly 12% of voters, disproportionately affected minority communities and became a central, contentious issue, reshaping voting trends and contributing to the BJP's surge across the state.
Voters in West Bengal are rushing home ahead of Wednesday's second phase of polling, causing airfares to surge 2-3 times normal rates. Flight tickets from Delhi to Kolkata now cost Rs 13,000-20,000 (normally Rs 6,000-7,500), while Mumbai-Kolkata routes have climbed to Rs 14,000-22,000. Train fares have also spiked with AC 3-tier tickets from Delhi reaching Rs 1,700-3,200. Voters cite fear of their names disappearing from electoral rolls as the driving factor, with many making expensive one-day return trips just to vote.
Benji, a 50-year-old man born in Kerala into loss and raised in an orphanage, found a home with the Baral family in Kolkata's Beleghata in 1999. After years of persuasion, he obtained a voter ID and voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, during the Election Commission's Special Intervention Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, officials rejected his claim that octogenarian Padmarani Baral is his guardian, citing lack of documentary proof of their relationship. With no records of his biological parents, his name was deleted from the rolls, leaving him stranded between identity and proof.
Mothabari voters, many with EPIC cards, were turned away on polling day, their names deleted from electoral rolls despite prior voting and document submissions. Migrant workers returned hoping to rectify their status, only to find their names still missing. This exclusion cast a shadow over the democratic process, leaving many feeling disenfranchised and questioning the fairness of the system.
139 voters in West Bengal had their names restored to electoral rolls through an appellate tribunal's supplementary list published Wednesday, allowing them to vote in the first phase of polling. Voters from Cooch Behar, Murshidabad and other districts shared stories of relief after facing name deletions due to alleged logical discrepancies. Some, like Ainul Miah's sister and teacher Biplab Majumder, remained excluded despite the late intervention.
Polling this time was the highest in the state’s electoral history, with 4.85 crore of the 5.73 crore on the electoral rolls casting their votes.
