A recent scrutiny of Mumbai's electoral rolls has brought to light significant irregularities, uncovering a troubling pattern of duplicate voter entries. The audit, which reviewed the city's voter registration database, has revealed a complex web of anomalies that could have implications for electoral integrity.
Scale of Duplication in Mumbai's Voter List
The analysis presents a startling breakdown of how names repeat across the voter list. 28,648 names were found to appear a single time, which is the standard, correct entry. However, the data quickly diverges from the norm. A massive 3 lakh (300,000) names appear twice in the records, indicating a primary layer of duplication.
The duplication does not stop at two entries. The review found deeper layers of repetition:
- 60,012 names are registered three times.
- 22,505 names appear four times across the list.
- 10,713 individuals have their names listed five times.
- The pattern continues with 5,962 names appearing six times.
- 3,428 entries were found seven times.
- 2,061 names are registered eight times.
- 1,484 entries repeat nine times.
- Finally, 1,017 names appear a remarkable ten times in the voter database.
Official Clarification on Duplicate Voters
In the wake of these findings, election officials have provided crucial context. They have clarified that the number of actual duplicate voters—meaning the same individual registered multiple times—is likely far lower than the raw data suggests. A significant portion of these repeated entries, officials explain, involves different people who share identical names.
This is a common phenomenon in a populous and diverse city like Mumbai, where many citizens may have similar or same names, especially common first and last name combinations. The initial data flags potential duplicates based on name matching, but further verification involving other details like father's name, age, and address is required to confirm if they are truly the same person.
Implications and Next Steps for Electoral Integrity
The discovery of these anomalies triggers a standard but critical process for the Election Commission. The presence of so many flagged entries necessitates a thorough, manual verification drive. Booth-level officers (BLOs) will now be tasked with physically checking the flagged entries against their assigned areas.
This process is vital for cleaning the electoral roll and ensuring that the principle of 'one person, one vote' is upheld. While shared names account for many entries, the audit also helps identify and remove genuine duplicate registrations, which can occur due to voter migration, re-registration after marriage, or administrative errors.
The review underscores the ongoing challenge of maintaining accurate voter lists in India's mega-cities. It highlights the importance of continuous voter list purification drives, especially ahead of major elections, to bolster public confidence in the electoral process and prevent any potential misuse.
