The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to release the much-anticipated draft electoral roll for Uttar Pradesh today, January 6, 2026, as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. This release comes after multiple delays, marking a critical step in updating the voter database for India's most populous state.
Why the Draft Roll Was Delayed
The publication of the Uttar Pradesh draft roll was postponed for the third time since the SIR process began across 12 states and Union Territories on October 27. According to officials, the state's Chief Electoral Officer, Navdeep Rinwa, requested a two-week extension to ensure thorough verification. This followed an earlier one-week extension granted to the state.
The primary reason for the delay was to allow District Election Officers additional time to re-verify lists of voters flagged under categories such as deceased, permanently shifted, or absent. This meticulous process aims to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the final voter list.
Massive Deletion Expected: UP Tops the Chart
Uttar Pradesh is projected to see the highest number of voter deletions in the country. Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa indicated that the draft roll is likely to contain approximately 12.55 crore voters. When compared to the pre-SIR voter count, this represents a potential deletion of around 2.89 crore names.
This scale of revision places Uttar Pradesh ahead of other major states. Based on draft rolls published earlier for other regions, Tamil Nadu is expected to see a 15% deletion rate, while Gujarat may see 14.5%, ranking second and third respectively in terms of the scale of deletions.
Status of SIR in Other States
The Special Intensive Revision exercise has already been completed in several other regions. These include Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The process in Uttar Pradesh is among the last to be finalized under this nationwide drive.
Next Steps for Voters
Individuals whose names are missing from the draft electoral roll will have the opportunity to file claims and objections. The ECI has established a process for citizens to challenge any incorrect removal of their names. It is crucial for voters to proactively check their status to ensure their franchise is secured.
The details of the draft electoral roll for Uttar Pradesh can be accessed online at the official Election Commission portal: https://voters.eci.gov.in. Voters are encouraged to visit the site and verify their enrollment details promptly.
Notably, despite the significant number of proposed deletions, no major political parties have formally flagged any large-scale irregularities in the revision process so far. The ECI continues to oversee the exercise with the goal of creating a clean and accurate electoral roll for the 2026 elections.
