EC re-opens window for electors left out of draft rolls in 7 States/ UT

Why in the News

Electors dropped from draft rolls as “absent, shifted, dead or duplicate” (ASDD) no longer have to apply afresh as new voters, and can instead resubmit their original enumeration forms. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has opened this window in six States and Delhi after a Supreme Court suggestion, covering 4.51 crore names left out during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Why were these electors left out of the draft rolls?

1. What the SIR is: The SIR is a fresh, house-to-house check of the entire electoral roll. It is like asking every existing member of a club to re-register.
2. Enumeration deadline: Every registered elector had to submit an enumeration form within a one-month phase. Those who missed it were left out of the draft rolls published earlier this year.
3. ASDD marking: Electors who were issued forms but could not be included were marked ASDD. Lists of these names were displayed during the enumeration phase.
4. Form 6 route: These electors were earlier encouraged to file Form 6, the statutory form meant for new electors, so a long-standing voter had to apply like a first-time voter.
5. The takeaway: A missed deadline had turned existing voters into fresh applicants, and the new window gives them a simpler way back onto the roll.

What has the ECI now allowed?

1. One more opportunity: ASDD electors get one more chance to have their names included in the final electoral roll.
2. Where to apply: Forms go to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant ERO (AERO) for the elector’s current ordinary residence. The ERO prepares and corrects a constituency’s roll.
3. No fixed deadline: The ECI letter set no deadline. Forms are expected to be accepted during the ongoing claims and objections period in each State.
4. No duplicate filing: An elector who has already filed Form 6 during the SIR need not submit the enumeration form again.
5. Same voter ID number: Electors added back will be reassigned the Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers they held before the SIR.

Which States are covered, and why now?

1. Coverage: The ECI wrote to the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana and Nagaland. None of the seven has published its final SIR roll.
2. Largest deletions: Maharashtra lost 2.06 crore names and Telangana 73.39 lakh, the two highest among the seven.
3. Supreme Court prompt: At an October 28 hearing, the Supreme Court asked the ECI to consider accepting late forms. The ECI acted just over a week later.

How will left-out electors be reached?

1. Re-display of lists: ASDD lists will again be posted at polling stations, panchayat bhawans, urban local body offices and Block Development Officer (BDO) offices.
2. Online access: Each CEO will also publish the lists on the CEO website in readable PDF format.
3. House-to-house visits: The ECI’s Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will work with the Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of political parties to contact every elector.

Challenges

1. Reaching shifted electors: Electors who have moved away may never see a list posted at their old polling station.
2. Open-ended window: Without a stated closing date, electors cannot tell how long the opportunity lasts.
3. Field capacity: House-to-house contact depends on BLOs and party agents covering every household within the claims period.
4. Scale of review: EROs must process resubmitted forms for crores of deleted names alongside routine claims and objections.

Way Forward

1. Fixed closing date: The ECI should announce a clear end date for the window in each State.
2. Outreach at new addresses: CEOs should publicise the window where shifted electors now live, not only at old polling stations.
3. Restoration data: CEOs should publish, constituency by constituency, how many ASDD electors are added back.

Conclusion

The ECI has given electors dropped during the SIR a simpler route back onto the rolls than fresh enrolment. How many of them are actually restored before the final rolls are published is the measure to watch.

Key numbers

1. Delhi and Andhra Pradesh deletions: 47.56 lakh and 44.89 lakh names.
2. Jharkhand and Haryana deletions: 43.61 lakh and 33.83 lakh names.
3. Nagaland deletions: 1.57 lakh names.

Matching Previous Year Question

“[2026, GS2, 10 marks] Is the right to vote a fundamental right? Discuss the position of the Election Commission of India while undertaking the revision of electoral rolls. Can it also examine the question of citizenship of voters?”