NewKerala.com

Gujarat Voter List Shrinks by 13.4% After Election Commission Clean-Up Drive

The Election Commission of India has released data on the net change in electors after a Special Intensive Revision in Gujarat, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry. Gujarat witnessed the most significant reduction, with its voter list shrinking by over 68 lakh names, a 13.4% net change, primarily due to the removal of ineligible voters. Puducherry's list decreased by 7.57%, while Lakshadweep saw a marginal 0.36% decline. The ECI emphasized that the roll update is continuous and announced the next phase of SIR will begin in 22 States and Union Territories in April 2026.

Key Points: ECI Releases Net Elector Change Data for Gujarat, Puducherry

  • Gujarat electors down by over 68 lakh
  • Deletions due to death, migration, duplicates
  • Puducherry sees 7.57% net reduction
  • Next SIR phase in 22 States/UTs from April 2026
2 min read

ECI shares SIR snapshot of net change in electors in Gujarat, Lakshadweep and Puducherry

Election Commission shares SIR results: Gujarat sees 13.4% drop in voters, Puducherry 7.57%, Lakshadweep 0.36% after verification. Details inside.

"The deletions were primarily due to electors found ineligible on grounds such as death, permanent migration, duplicate or multiple enrolments - Election Commission of India"

New Delhi, Feb 20

The Election Commission of India on Friday shared a snapshot of the net changes in the number of electors following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Gujarat, Lakshadweep and Puducherry.

The Commission detailed the extent of deletions and attributed the changes to standard verification processes aimed at ensuring clean and accurate voter lists.

In Gujarat, the total number of electors before the SIR stood at 5,08,43,436. After the revision exercise, the figure came down to 4,40,30,725, marking a deletion of 68,12,711 names -- a net change of 13.40 per cent.

The Commission said the deletions were primarily due to electors found ineligible on grounds such as death, permanent migration, duplicate or multiple enrolments, and other statutory reasons identified during field verification.

In the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, the electorate declined marginally from 57,813 before SIR to 57,607 after completion of the exercise -- a net change of 0.36 per cent.

In Puducherry, the number of electors reduced from 10,21,578 prior to the revision to 9,44,211 post-SIR, reflecting a net change of 7.57 per cent.

The ECI emphasised that updation of electoral rolls is a continuous process, and eligible citizens can still apply for corrections and changes. It said Form 6 can be submitted for the inclusion of new voters, Form 7 for deletion of names, and Form 8 for the correction or modification of entries.

These forms can be filed up to the last date of nomination in an election.

The Commission further said that the SIR process in Bihar has already been completed, while the Summary Revision (SR) for Assam has also concluded. The final electoral rolls for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are scheduled to be published on February 21.

Earlier on Thursday, the ECI announced that it has initiated the next phase of SIR in 22 States and Union Territories, including the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, beginning April 2026.

The States and UTs slated for the upcoming SIR include Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Ladakh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, NCT of Delhi, Odisha, Punjab, Sikkim, Tripura, Telangana and Uttarakhand.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
This is a good step for electoral integrity. Removing duplicates and names of those who have passed away or moved is crucial. My uncle's name was on the list in two places! Glad they are fixing this. 👍
A
Aman W
The numbers for Lakshadweep and Puducherry seem more reasonable. Gujarat's figure is surprising. Was there a special drive or has the list been outdated for years? Either way, a clean voter list is the foundation of a strong democracy. Jai Hind!
S
Sarah B
Important to highlight that the process is continuous and people can still apply using Forms 6, 7, or 8. Many might not know this. The ECI and media should run awareness campaigns, especially in rural areas.
V
Vikram M
As someone from Gujarat, I appreciate the effort. Migration for work is high here. Lists need regular updates. Hope they do the same rigorous check in all states mentioned for 2026, especially Delhi and Maharashtra.
K
Kavya N
The timing before potential elections is always scrutinized. But if the reasons are statutory (death, duplicates etc.), it's a routine administrative duty. Let's not politicize necessary housekeeping. 👏

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50