In a major revision of voter lists, Rajasthan has removed the names of nearly 42 lakh individuals from its draft electoral rolls. The significant cleanup was conducted during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process overseen by the state's election authorities.
Massive Cleanup of Voter Database
State Chief Electoral Officer Naveen Mahajan revealed the details on Tuesday. He stated that enumeration forms for a staggering 41.85 lakh voters out of a total of 5.46 crore could not be collected. The primary reasons cited for this large-scale deletion were that the individuals were either deceased, had permanently migrated or shifted residence, or were absent during the enumeration phase of the exercise.
Notices for Documentation
Beyond the deletions, Mahajan indicated that an additional around 11 lakh voters will be issued formal notices. These notices will seek necessary documents from these individuals to verify and update their registration details in the electoral rolls.
Jaipur Leads in Deletions
The official highlighted a key geographical trend, noting that the highest number of voter deletions has occurred in the state capital, Jaipur. This points to a significant demographic churn in the urban centre, likely due to migration and other factors.
The publication of the draft rolls on Tuesday follows an announcement made by the Election Commission of India on Monday. The Commission stated that draft electoral rolls for three states, including Rajasthan, and two Union Territories would be published as part of the SIR initiative.
This rigorous revision process is crucial for maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the electoral database, ensuring that the rolls reflect the current and eligible resident population ahead of future elections.
