Punjab deletes 13.6 lakh names from final voter list after SIR
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Chandigarh: Punjab’s final electoral rolls have recorded a net reduction of around 13.6 lakh voters following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), bringing the state’s electorate to approximately 2.01 crore, according to reports.
The latest figures represent a decline of about 6.3 per cent from the 2.14 crore voters registered before the revision began. However, the electorate has grown by 3.6 per cent from the 1.94 crore names included in the draft rolls published on August 13, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra said.
The final list includes more than 7.9 lakh newly registered voters. During the verification process, authorities issued notices to 35.4 lakh electors, of whom over 86,000 were classified as ineligible.
The revision began on June 25, followed by the publication of the draft rolls in August. The process of receiving claims and objections, along with hearings on disputed entries, continued until October 8.
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Punjab is among 19 states and Union Territories covered under the third phase of the nationwide voter roll revision. The state is scheduled to hold Assembly elections early next year.
The exercise has faced criticism from Opposition parties and other groups, who have raised concerns about genuine voters being excluded and the possible impact of deletions on election outcomes. The protests have also included demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Supreme Court upheld the legality of the revision exercise in May but clarified that it did not authorise the Election Commission to determine an individual's citizenship.
Concerns have also emerged over reports of some state authorities using voter list deletions as grounds for restricting access to public services and passport renewals.
