No Deletion During Pre‑SIR Mapping Phase Without Notice: Delhi CEO Sets the Record Straight

When the Delhi Assembly elections rolled around in February 2025, the city’s voter list boasted about 1.56 crore names. Fast forward to mid‑June 2026 – the day the roll was frozen – and that figure had slipped to roughly 1.45 crore. The dip raised eyebrows, especially after media reports claimed more than ten lakh entries were removed during the pre‑SIR (Special Intensive Revision) mapping phase.

On September 8, 2026, the Chief Electoral Officer’s office pushed back. In a statement, it stressed that the revision of the electoral roll is a year‑round activity, driven by Forms 6, 7 and 8 that citizens submit. Before the official SIR began, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) went door‑to‑door, helping electors confirm their details as part of a “pre‑revision” drive.

It was during this ground‑level work that BLOs flagged voters who had apparently moved from their registered addresses. Those flagged names were NOT automatically erased. "In every case, a notice was dispatched to the voter’s registered address via speed post, exactly as the Election Commission of India mandates," the statement read. "The elector was then given ample time to appear before a hearing panel and present his or her side of the story."

The Hindu had reported that the pre‑SIR phase saw a net loss of 10.28 lakh entries – about 93 % of the total 11.03 lakh decline. The CEO’s clarification makes it clear that none of those deletions happened in the dark; each was preceded by a formal notice and an opportunity to be heard.

So, while the numbers do show a shrinkage in the roll, the process behind it wasn’t a secret‑sweep. Voters who were listed as “shifted” were contacted, and if they failed to respond or prove their continued eligibility, only then could their names be pruned. That, according to the CEO, aligns with the Election Commission’s guidelines and ensures fairness.

In short, the Delhi election machinery is still following the rulebook – notifying electors, allowing hearings, and only then updating the roll. No mysterious mass deletions, just the usual, albeit meticulous, housekeeping that keeps the democratic register accurate.