In a significant move ahead of the crucial three-tier panchayat elections, the State Election Commission (SEC) of Uttar Pradesh has unveiled a comprehensively updated provisional electoral roll. This extensive revision has led to a substantial increase in the state's voter base, aiming for a more accurate and inclusive database for the upcoming local body polls.
Massive Surge in Voter Numbers
The scale of the update is evident in the numbers. Prior to the revision, the base electoral roll contained 12,29,50,052 electors. Following the intensive cleaning and enrollment drive, the total number has now risen to 12,69,69,610. This represents a net addition of 40,19,558 voters, marking a healthy growth rate of 3.27% in the state's panchayat electorate.
How the Revision Was Carried Out
The mammoth exercise was built on three key pillars: additions, modifications, and deletions. The SEC successfully enrolled a staggering 1,81,96,367 new voters, which accounts for a significant 14.8% of the original roll. Concurrently, 21,08,601 existing entries were updated to correct details and ensure accuracy.
A major focus was on purging the list of ineligible names. The commission removed 1,41,76,809 names, constituting 11.53% of the prior list. These deletions primarily addressed cases of death, migration, and duplicate registrations.
Technology and the Fight Against Duplicates
Technology, particularly the e-BLO App, was the backbone of this operation. It processed the lion's share of changes:
- 72.12% of additions (1,31,22,867 voters)
- 78.07% of modifications (16,46,232 entries)
- 51.09% of deletions (72,42,565 names)
Vendor-assisted efforts and online applications further streamlined the process. A dedicated campaign was launched to eliminate duplicate entries. The SEC's systems flagged 90,76,015 potential duplicates, leading to the verification of a massive 2,27,33,769 records. This scrutiny resulted in the deletion of 53,67,410 duplicate voters, which alone accounted for approximately 39% of all names removed from the list.
Next Steps and Official Statement
Raj Pratap Singh, the State Election Commissioner, confirmed the development. Speaking to the Times of India, he stated, "The provisional list is now available for public review." He also announced the deadline for the final publication, adding, "The final electoral list will be published by February 6."
This provisional publication opens the door for citizens to scrutinize the list and raise objections or seek corrections, ensuring the final roll is robust and error-free before the panchayat elections are announced. The exercise underscores the SEC's commitment to conducting fair and transparent local democracy exercises in India's most populous state.
