Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer Clarifies Voter Deletions During Pre‑SIR Mapping

When Delhi’s electoral roll was frozen on June 16, 2026, the city’s electorate had slipped from the 1.56 crore registered voters recorded for the February 2025 Assembly elections to about 1.45 crore. The drop sparked a flurry of questions, especially after a report suggested that more than ten lakh names had vanished during the pre‑Special Intensive Revision (SIR) mapping exercise.

On September 8, the office of Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ashok Kumar released a detailed statement to put the record straight. According to the CEO, the revision of the roll is a year‑round activity, driven by the receipt of Form‑6, Form‑7 and Form‑8 applications. Before the formal SIR began, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) went door‑to‑door, helping electors confirm their details and flag any changes of address.

“If a voter had moved from the address on record, the BLO reported it during the pre‑revision mapping,” the statement read. “Every such case triggered a notice sent by speed‑post to the registered address, and the elector was given sufficient time to appear before a hearing panel.”

In other words, no name was simply erased from the list. The CEO emphasized that each deletion followed a formal inquiry, adhering to Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines. The notice, he added, provided the electors a chance to be heard – a safeguard that, according to the office, was consistently applied.

Data released by the CEO’s office shows that 10.28 lakh net deletions occurred during the pre‑SIR phase, representing roughly 93 % of the overall 11.03 lakh decline in the roll between 2025 and the freeze. While the numbers are large, the process, the CEO insists, was transparent and procedural.

Citizen groups and some media outlets have flagged discrepancies, pointing out voters marked “dead” or otherwise removed without explanation. The CEO’s statement seeks to address those concerns, insisting that the procedural safeguards were in place and that any alleged oversight would be examined on a case‑by‑case basis.

As Delhi gears up for upcoming electoral exercises, the emphasis remains on ensuring that every eligible voter’s name stays on the roll unless a clear, documented reason warrants removal – and that the voter is always given a fair chance to contest the decision.