Delhi to issue fresh forms to enrol 47.5 lakh voters left off draft rolls

The Election Commission is preparing to address a significant gap in the electoral process as it gears up to issue fresh enumeration forms to over 47.5 lakh voters. This initiative follows the discovery that these individuals were excluded from Delhi's draft electoral rolls during the recent Special Intensive Revision. As residents search for the latest Delhi issue news, authorities are working to streamline the identification process to ensure eligible citizens are not left behind.

Addressing the Delhi issue

Currently, the draft roll contains approximately 97.5 lakh electors, a notable decrease from the 1.45 crore voters recorded at the start of the revision. The 47.5 lakh names excluded represent nearly 32.8 per cent of the city's total electorate. To rectify this, the Election Commission is modifying its ECINET digital portal. This update will allow Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) to generate specific enumeration forms for these excluded voters, moving away from the current manual identification method. While some BLOs have already begun the identification process, the full-scale distribution of these forms is expected to commence next week.

The Election Commission will distribute fresh enumeration forms to help 47.5 lakh excluded voters verify their eligibility.

Each polling station typically manages about 1,500 electors, with roughly 200 to 300 classified under the absent, shifted, dead, or duplicate (ASDD) category. The digital portal upgrade is designed to make the identification and distribution process significantly more efficient for officials. This effort is distinct from the ongoing verification of 33.1 lakh voters who were included in the draft roll but flagged due to inconsistencies or missing links to the 2002 electoral records.

Public participation remains active, with election authorities receiving over 3.04 lakh Form 6 applications for fresh enrolment since the draft roll was published on August 31. In total, more than 5.16 lakh such applications have been filed since the revision process began. Additionally, officials have processed over 30,000 requests for name deletions and over 1.11 lakh requests for entry corrections or address changes. To accommodate these processes, the deadline for filing claims and objections has been extended to November 25. Election authorities aim to resolve these claims by December 15, with the final electoral roll scheduled for publication on December 22.

Why it matters

The initiative is critical for maintaining the integrity of the electoral roll and ensuring that nearly a third of Delhi's electorate is not disenfranchised. By automating the identification of excluded voters, the Election Commission provides a vital second chance for citizens to establish their eligibility and participate in upcoming democratic processes.