Lucknow: In one of the most extensive electoral roll revisions undertaken in recent years, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has released the final voter list for Uttar Pradesh following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The updated rolls show a significant decline in the total number of registered voters, with 2.04 crore names deleted, bringing the total electorate down from 15.44 crore to 13.39 crore, a reduction of approximately 13.24%.
The revision, which spanned 166 days from October 27, 2025, to April 10, 2026, involved large-scale verification and correction efforts across all 75 districts of the state. The process aimed to eliminate ineligible entries such as deceased individuals, duplicate registrations, and voters who had shifted residences, while also adding eligible new voters.
Sharp Reduction After Draft and Final Adjustments
The revision process unfolded in multiple stages. The draft voter list released on January 6, 2026, had already indicated a steep drop, with 2.89 crore names removed, reducing the voter base to 12.55 crore. However, during the claims and objections phase, approximately 84 lakh names were re-added, leading to the final figure of 13.39 crore voters.
According to Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa, the deletions were carried out based on multiple criteria:
- 3.5 lakh names removed due to error in forms
- 3.28 lakh voters found absent
- 70,076 duplicate entries
- 55,865 deceased individuals
- 2,269 underage registrations
The process also saw the addition of over 84 lakh new voters, reflecting efforts to include eligible citizens who had turned 18 or were previously unregistered.
District-Wise Impact: Lucknow Tops the List
The impact of the revision varied significantly across districts, with Lucknow recording the highest number of deletions. The state capital saw 9.14 lakh names removed, amounting to a 22.89% decline in its voter base. Before the revision, Lucknow had nearly 39.94 lakh voters, which dropped sharply in the draft list before partially recovering in the final roll.
Other major districts also witnessed substantial reductions:
- Prayagraj: 8.26 lakh names deleted
- Kanpur Nagar: 6.87 lakh
- Agra: 6.37 lakh
- Ghaziabad: 5.74 lakh
In percentage terms, Ghaziabad (20.24%), Kanpur Nagar (19.42%), Gautam Buddh Nagar (19.33%), and Meerut (18.74%) also saw significant declines.
Assembly Constituencies See Dramatic Shifts
At the constituency level, the changes were even more striking. Lucknow Cantt, represented by Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, recorded the highest percentage decline at 34.18%. Similarly, Allahabad North (34.01%), Lucknow East (31.01%), and Lucknow North (31%) were among the worst affected.
In absolute numbers, Sahibabad constituency in Ghaziabad district saw the largest drop, with 3,16,484 voters removed. This constituency is represented by IT Minister Sunil Sharma, who had previously secured one of the highest victory margins in the state.
Other notable constituencies include:
- Noida: 1,83,887 voters reduced
- Lucknow North: 1,54,710 voters reduced
- Agra Cantt: 1,47,182 voters reduced
- Allahabad North: 1,45,810 voters reduced
Gender and Age Composition of Voters
The final electoral roll provides a detailed demographic breakdown:
- Total voters: 13,39,84,792
- Male voters: 7,30,71,061 (54.54%)
- Female voters: 6,09,09,525 (45.46%)
- Third gender voters: 4,206
The gender ratio stands at 834, showing a noticeable gap between male and female voters.
The number of voters aged 18-19 years stands at 17.63 lakh (1.32%), indicating relatively low youth participation compared to the overall electorate.
Ground-Level Execution and Challenges
The SIR exercise involved a massive administrative effort. According to officials:
- 75 District Election Officers
- 403 Electoral Registration Officers
- 12,758 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers
- Over 1.77 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs)
- 5.82 lakh booth-level agents from political parties
participated in the process.
BLOs conducted door-to-door verification, ensuring that forms were filled and submitted correctly. Despite the scale of the operation, the process was not without challenges. Reports indicate that 11 BLOs lost their lives during the exercise, due to causes ranging from heart attacks to stress-related incidents, highlighting the intense pressure involved in conducting such a large-scale verification drive.
Meanwhile, the sharp reduction in voter numbers has sparked political debate. Congress leader Ajay Rai questioned the credibility of the revised rolls, arguing that the number of eligible voters in the state should logically exceed 16 crores, based on population data and local body electoral rolls.
He raised concerns about the criteria used for deletions and alleged that the process could potentially affect democratic representation. The Congress party has indicated that it may not accept the revised voter list without further scrutiny.
The Election Commission, however, has maintained that the exercise was conducted transparently and in accordance with established guidelines, emphasizing that the goal of SIR is to ensure that “no eligible voter is left out and no ineligible voter is included.”
Comparison with Other States
Uttar Pradesh is not the only state to undergo such revisions. Similar SIR exercises were conducted in other states, with varying levels of voter deletions:
- Gujarat: 13.40% reduction
- West Bengal: 8.25%
- Bihar: 6.05%
- Madhya Pradesh: 6.00%
- Rajasthan: 5.70%
However, in absolute numbers, Uttar Pradesh recorded the largest reduction, reflecting both its population size and the scale of the exercise.
What Voters Should Do Next
The Election Commission has urged citizens to verify their names in the updated voter list. Voters can check their status online through:
- voters.eci.gov.in
- ceouttarpradesh.nic.in
If a name is missing, individuals can:
- Submit Form 6 for fresh registration
- File an appeal under Section 24 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950
- First appeal: District Magistrate (within 15 days)
- Second appeal: Chief Electoral Officer (within 30 days)
Officials have reassured voters that missing names can still be corrected through these mechanisms and have advised against panic.
