Delhi SIR: Poll officers to re-verify 47.5 lakh left off draft roll

New Delhi: Amid mounting scrutiny over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer has ordered a fresh verification drive to identify eligible voters excluded from the draft list, as concerns persist over the scale of deletions, according to a report by The Indian Express.

Delhi had approximately 1.45 crore electors before the exercise began. However, only 97.5 lakh names appeared in the draft roll published on August 31, while around 47.5 lakh people were classified as untraceable or otherwise ineligible after booth-level officers reported them absent, deceased, shifted or listed more than once.

The latest directive requires Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to identify eligible voters missing from the draft list, in addition to their ongoing verification of electors who have been served with notices. Those found eligible must be assisted in applying for enrolment through Form 6, the application used by new voters.

Officials have been instructed to carry blank forms during house visits, accept physical applications without refusal and digitise them within two days. Applications must not be rejected on arbitrary grounds, according to the order.

The scale of the exercise is further underscored by the notices issued to approximately 33.1 lakh people already included in the draft roll. Of these, 13.79 lakh could not be linked to the previous SIR electoral roll, while another 19.33 lakh were flagged for inconsistencies in their enumeration forms.

Despite the enrolment process, only 2.3 lakh Form 6 applications were submitted between August 31 and October 15.

The re-enrolment initiative follows the Election Commission’s direction for similar drives in 20 states and Union Territories where the SIR has concluded. Delhi’s final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on December 4. Weekend enrolment camps have also been held since September 20, including for homeless people, transgender persons, sex workers and those displaced by demolitions.