New Delhi: Ishaq Noori, a qawwal residing in Uttam Nagar's Bhagwati Vihar, is preparing for challenges as the Special Summary Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls approaches in Delhi. During a recent preparatory voter mapping exercise, Noori's name could not be verified. Although he is a registered voter whose name appeared in the electoral rolls in 2000, it was missing from the 2002 rolls. Noori, who migrated from Uttar Pradesh, said he is now searching for documents to verify his name, despite having lived in Bhagwati Vihar for decades.
Widespread Concerns Among Migrant Populations
In areas like Sangam Vihar, Seelampur, Burari, and Uttam Nagar, which have large migrant populations, many residents like Noori are worried because their names were absent from the 2002 electoral list. The verification process is set to begin on June 30. The last such exercise in the capital was conducted in 2008.
The upcoming SIR is likely to highlight one of Delhi's least documented yet politically significant demographics: migrant and rental voters. The city's electorate is unusually fluid, shaped by hundreds of thousands of Purvanchali migrants, students, domestic workers, construction laborers, jhuggi residents, and young professionals who frequently change addresses or live in informal housing arrangements.
Required Documents and Challenges
A Delhi election panel official stated that the 13 indicative documents required for verification include Aadhaar card, birth certificate, passport, matriculation certificate, permanent resident certificate, caste certificate, and land or house allotment certificate issued by the government.
Sanjay Kumar, a migrant from Bihar living in Seelampur's Ajit Nagar, said his parents are not registered voters in Bihar because they passed away in 2000. "I am a carpenter and away from home almost every day. I don't know how I will prove my eligibility. I am still trying to figure a way out," said Kumar.
Current Voter Statistics and Preparations
Delhi currently has around 1.5 crore registered voters, up from 1.47 crore in 2020. The official said the poll panel has already mapped about 40% of existing voters by matching both the 2002 and 2025 electoral rolls. Preparatory work is complete, and a series of meetings will be held in the coming weeks leading up to the SIR launch.
Residents' Perspectives
Shabir Ali, a resident of Azadpur, noted that nearby Bharola village has a large presence of Purvanchali voters. "The village has around 45,000 voters, many of whom stay on rent without formal rent agreements and frequently change addresses. Officials conducting SIR should consider these issues and ensure that eligible voters are not adversely affected during the exercise," said Ali.
Md Anish, who lives near Shastri Park Buland Masjid, emphasized that SIR should be transparent and fair. "A girl from our neighborhood whose parents are registered voters of the area has not been enrolled as a voter even though she submitted all proofs, including her parents' voter card details," he said.
Official Process and Assurances
The official said the SIR aims to ensure that no eligible voter is left out while removing ineligible entries from electoral rolls. "Booth level officers (BLOs) will conduct house-to-house verification and distribute enumeration forms, which can also be filled online," the official added. "If a BLO finds a house locked at the time of enumeration, they will slip in the forms and make at least three visits to collect them after they are filled," the official said, adding that each voter must submit the form along with requisite information and self-attested documents to the BLO upon their next visit.
