4.76 million names dropped from Delhi voter rolls, only 2.5 lakh Form 6 applications filed

Nearly 4.76 million names were removed from Delhi’s draft electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), but only 250,754 Form 6 applications seeking inclusion had been received by October 22, according to data released by the office of the chief electoral officer (CEO).

According to a report by The Hindustan Times, the applications were received between August 31, when the draft electoral roll was published, and October 22. The figure includes both first-time voters and people whose names were deleted during the SIR exercise, the Hindustan Times reported.

Another 212,400 Form 6 applications had been received before the publication of the draft rolls on August 31.

According to the CEO’s office, around 3.3 million people were flagged during the revision for either having no link to the 2002 electoral rolls or for discrepancies in their records. Of these, around 2.95 million cases have been resolved. Their names will be included in the final rolls unless objections seeking their removal are filed through Form 7, officials said.

Delhi’s SIR began on June 30, when the electoral rolls contained around 14.5 million voters. The draft rolls published on August 31 removed 4,756,722 names under categories including absent, shifted, dead and duplicate (ASDD).

Between September 20, when special camps began in Delhi, and October 22, authorities received 158,470 Form 6 applications. The CEO’s office said around 89,000 special camps had been organised to help eligible voters check their names and apply for inclusion.

West Delhi recorded the highest number of applications during the August 31-October 22 period, with 30,361, followed by North West Delhi with 25,925 and East Delhi with 24,200.

New Delhi recorded the lowest number, with 4,341 applications, followed by Old Delhi with 10,668 and Central Delhi with 10,796.

The claims and objections window closes on October 30. Voters can use Form 6 to seek inclusion in the electoral rolls, Form 7 to object to the inclusion of a name or seek deletion, and Form 8 to correct details.

The CEO’s office said all applications would be disposed of by November 30, ahead of the publication of the final electoral rolls on December 4.

An election official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the relatively low number of applications indicated that the ASDD list had been compiled through due process. The official added that nearly half of the fresh applications were from first-time voters.

The revision has drawn scrutiny over the removal of millions of names and the Election Commission’s direction that eligible voters missing from the draft rolls apply through Form 6 to be included again.