Uttar Pradesh's Electoral Roll Revision Receives Fourth Extension from Election Commission
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced a fourth extension for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh, with the final roll now scheduled for publication on April 10. This decision came on Friday, which was originally the last day for filing claims and objections against the draft electoral roll.
Revised Schedule and Key Dates
In a letter to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer on Thursday, the Election Commission stated it had considered the CEO's request along with "other relevant factors" before revising the schedule. The ECI had initiated the SIR for electoral rolls in nine states, including Uttar Pradesh, and three Union Territories back in October of last year. While the electoral rolls for the other states and UTs are set to be published on February 14, Uttar Pradesh's process has been extended further.
According to the previous extension, which was the third one, the ECI in December had established the following timeline:
- Draft roll publication: January 6
- Period for filing claims and objections: January 6 to February 6
- Final roll publication: March 6
With this new extension, the poll body has made significant adjustments:
- Claims and objections period extended to March 6
- Period for issuing notices to electors extended until March 27
- Final publication date pushed to April 10
Significant Voter Deletions and Notices
The draft electoral roll published in Uttar Pradesh revealed substantial changes, with 19 percent of electors being deleted. This reduction brought the total number down from 15.44 crore to 12.55 crore. Following this, an additional 3.36 crore electors, representing 26 percent of the remaining voters, have been flagged for notices.
These flagged electors must appear for hearings or provide the necessary documents to establish their eligibility. Failure to do so may result in their removal from the final electoral rolls, potentially further reducing the voter count in India's most populous state.
Background on Special Intensive Revision
The Election Commission ordered a Special Intensive Revision of the country's electoral rolls on June 24, 2025, marking a departure from the practices of the past two decades. During this period, no intensive revisions had been conducted; instead, electoral rolls were revised annually and before each election by simply adding and deleting names from existing rolls.
In the current SIR, the Election Commission is preparing the rolls afresh, using the last intensive revision in each state as the base year. Electors who were on the rolls during the last intensive revision do not need to provide additional documentation. However, those not on the earlier rolls must submit documents to establish their eligibility, including proof of citizenship.
Controversy and Legal Challenges
The Election Commission's approach to conducting the Special Intensive Revision has faced significant scrutiny. The methodology has been challenged in the Supreme Court and questioned by opposition parties, who allege it represents an attempt to create a National Register of Citizens through indirect means. This controversy adds a layer of political tension to the electoral roll revision process in Uttar Pradesh, a state with substantial political significance in national elections.
The repeated extensions suggest the complexity and scale of the revision process in Uttar Pradesh, which has the largest electorate among Indian states. The final electoral roll publication in April will be closely watched by political parties, analysts, and citizens alike as it will shape the voter base for upcoming elections in the state.
