UP SIR: Nearly 2.9 Crore Names Dropped as State Prepares to Publish Draft Voter List

Lucknow: The special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh has concluded, bringing significant changes to the state’s voter database ahead of upcoming elections. Election authorities are set to release the updated draft voter list on December 31, marking the completion of one of the largest voter verification exercises in the country.

According to officials familiar with the process, nearly 2.89 crore names have been classified as “untraceable” or ineligible and consequently removed from the rolls. This accounts for close to one-fifth of the state’s electorate. The revision exercise aimed to clean up the voter list by removing names of those who have relocated, passed away, or were registered multiple times.

Data from the revision shows that a major portion of deletions involved voters who had permanently moved out of their constituencies. Many of them reportedly informed booth-level officers about their relocation during door-to-door verification. A substantial number of names were also removed due to reported deaths, while lakhs of entries were flagged and deleted after being identified as duplicates.

Another large segment consisted of voters who could not be traced during the verification drive. In addition, several individuals failed to submit the mandatory forms required under the SIR process, leading to their exclusion from the draft rolls.

The impact of the revision has been particularly visible in urban centres. In Lucknow, the state capital, the voter count has seen a sharp decline, with around 12 lakh names removed following the verification. Officials noted that form submission rates varied across assembly segments, with some constituencies showing strong participation while others lagged behind.

With the draft roll scheduled for publication on December 31, voters will get an opportunity to raise claims and objections until January 30, 2026. After addressing these grievances, the final electoral roll is expected to be published on February 28, 2026.

Meanwhile, the voter list revision has triggered political reactions. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the scale of deletions has caused unease within the ruling BJP, claiming that a large share of the removed names belonged to the party’s traditional voter base. He suggested that the issue could have deeper political implications as the state moves closer to the election cycle.