In a significant electoral roll cleanup, the Union Territory of Puducherry has removed more than one lakh voters from its list following the first phase of a special intensive revision (SIR). The Chief Electoral Office (CEO) released these details in a recent press note, marking a major update to the voter database ahead of future elections.
Massive Cleanup: The Numbers Behind the Revision
The draft electoral rolls, published on December 16, now show a total of 9.18 lakh voters in Puducherry. This is a substantial drop from the 10.21 lakh voters who were enrolled as of October 27. The SIR process led to the removal of a total of 1,03,467 voters for various reasons.
The breakdown of the removed voters is as follows:
- 80,645 voters were deleted because they had either shifted to other states or were not found at their registered addresses.
- 20,798 voters were removed from the rolls due to their demise.
- 2,024 voters were identified as having enrolled in multiple locations and were thus classified as duplicate entries.
Transparency and Opportunity for Voters
The Chief Electoral Office has taken steps to ensure transparency in this process. Booth-wise copies of the draft electoral rolls, in both printed and digital formats, have been shared with representatives of recognised political parties. The rolls are also available for public viewing on the CEO's official website: ceopuducherry.py.gov.in.
To help individuals understand why their names might be missing, detailed lists categorising absent, shifted, deceased, and duplicate electors will be displayed on notice boards at local body offices and Block Development Offices (BDOs). These lists will also be uploaded to the CEO's website.
Importantly, this is not the final word for genuine voters. The office has opened a claims and objections period from December 16 to January 15. During this window, eligible citizens who find themselves excluded can apply for inclusion or correct discrepancies.
How to Enroll or Re-enroll
The CEO's note specifically addressed young voters. Those who have attained or will attain 18 years of age on or before January 1, 2026, can enroll by submitting Form 6 along with a prescribed declaration form.
To facilitate this, the election department will conduct special enrollment campaigns across Puducherry on two upcoming weekends. The exact dates for these campaigns are expected to be announced shortly.
This rigorous revision exercise underscores the election commission's ongoing effort to maintain accurate and updated electoral rolls, which are the cornerstone of a fair and representative democratic process. Voters in Puducherry are encouraged to verify their status promptly and utilize the provided window to ensure their franchise is secured.
