In a significant pre-election exercise, the draft electoral roll for Kerala has seen the removal of more than 2.2 lakh voter names. The state's election authorities published the updated draft list, which is a crucial step ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Major Clean-Up of Voter Database
The primary reason for this large-scale deletion is the identification and removal of duplicate entries from the electoral database. According to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Sanjay Kaul, a thorough verification process led to the striking off of 2,20,176 names from the previous list. This clean-up drive is part of a continuous effort to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the voter rolls.
Despite these deletions, the state has witnessed a net increase in its voter base. The draft roll shows an addition of 3,74,826 new voters, leading to a net addition of approximately 1.5 lakh electors. The total number of voters in the draft roll now stands at 2,77,49,159.
Breakdown of New Registrations and Gender Ratio
The new registrations include a healthy proportion of young voters. A total of 1,51,809 individuals in the age group of 18-19 years have been enrolled. The gender-wise data reveals there are 1,34,11,499 male voters and 1,43,36,275 female voters, with 1,385 voters
The overall gender ratio has shown a positive trend, improving from 1,068 female voters per 1000 male voters in the last published roll to 1,069 female voters per 1000 male voters in the current draft.
Public Scrutiny and Claim Process
The publication of the draft roll marks the beginning of a period for public claims and objections. The draft is now available for scrutiny at all 2,900 designated locations across Kerala's 140 Assembly constituencies. Voters can verify their details and raise concerns if they find any discrepancies.
The process for filing claims and objections will remain open until December 9, 2023. Citizens can submit applications for new registrations, corrections in existing entries, transpositions within the constituency, or deletions. Special camps will be held at all polling stations on November 25 and 26, and December 3, 2023, to facilitate this process.
Following the disposal of all claims and objections, the final electoral roll will be published on January 5, 2024. This final list will form the basis for the Lok Sabha elections expected in the first half of 2024.
Ensuring Electoral Integrity
The removal of over 2.2 lakh names, largely duplicates, underscores the Election Commission's focus on creating a clean and reliable voter list. This exercise is critical for preventing electoral malpractices and ensuring that every legitimate vote counts. With the net addition of voters, the state is preparing for a robust democratic exercise where all eligible citizens can participate.
Voters are strongly encouraged to check their enrollment status either at the designated locations or online through the National Voters' Services Portal (NVSP) or the Voter Helpline App to ensure their names are correctly listed for the forthcoming general elections.
