Andhra Pradesh draft electoral roll: 45 lakh voters deleted after SIR
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh's post-SIR draft electoral roll wipes out nearly 45 lakh entries — a mix of the deceased, the absent, and duplicate registrations. With the final roll due on 3 October and a claims window open only until 30 August, the clock is ticking for any legitimate voter whose name has been dropped.
Key Takeaways
Nearly 45 lakh voters deleted from Andhra Pradesh's draft electoral roll published on 31 July after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) .
22.30 lakh removed for permanent shift or absence; 15.22 lakh deceased entries deleted; 7.37 lakh duplicate registrations cleared.
3.71 crore electors ( 89.22% ) submitted enumeration forms out of a total base of 4,16,27,694 .
Genuine voters can apply for reinstatement via Form-6 during the claims window: 31 July – 30 August .
Objections to be disposed of by 28 September ; final electoral roll to be published on 3 October .
1,27,868 Booth Level Agents from recognised political parties participated — nearly double the 68,868 at the start of SIR.
Nearly 45 lakh voters have been removed from Andhra Pradesh's draft electoral roll, published by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on 31 July following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise conducted across all 175 Assembly Constituencies. The deletions represent one of the largest single-round voter list cleanups in the state's recent electoral history.
Breakdown of Deletions
Of the nearly 45 lakh names removed, 22.30 lakh electors were deleted because they had permanently shifted or were found absent from their registered addresses. A further 15.22 lakh entries were removed on account of the voter's death, while 7.37 lakh voters were found to have been enrolled at multiple locations — their names will now be retained at only one place.
Chief Electoral Officer Vivek Yadav said that enumeration forms were collected from 3.71 crore electors, representing 89.22 per cent of the total registered base of 4,16,27,694 voters as of 24 July. The remaining 44.89 lakh electors could not be traced by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), had migrated to other states or Union Territories, or had not submitted their forms by the deadline.
How the SIR Was Conducted
The SIR ran from 15 June to 24 July, deploying a large administrative machinery across the state's 28 districts. The exercise involved 175 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), 1,079 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), 4,650 BLO Supervisors, and 46,397 Booth Level Officers — one for each polling station. Political parties also participated actively, with 1,27,868 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by recognised parties, up sharply from 68,868 at the start of the exercise.
What Genuine Voters Can Do
The ECI has clarified that legitimate voters whose names have been dropped can apply for reinstatement during the claims and objections window, which runs from 31 July to 30 August. Applications must be filed using Form-6 along with a prescribed declaration. Booth-wise lists of absent, shifted, deceased, and duplicate voters have been displayed at ERO/AERO offices, Grama Panchayat and Municipal Office notice boards, polling stations, and on the CEO's website as well as respective District Election Officers' websites.
Key Dates and Next Steps
Claims and objections will be disposed of between 31 July and 28 September. The final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on 3 October. The scale of the revision underscores the state's focus on electoral accuracy ahead of future polls, though it also raises questions about whether legitimate voters — particularly migrant workers — may face hurdles in getting their names restored within the stipulated window.
Point of View
But the real test lies in what comes next. A large share of the deletions — particularly the 22.30 lakh marked absent or shifted — likely include migrant workers and seasonal labourers who are among the most politically marginalised. A 30-day claims window is tight for that demographic. The surge in Booth Level Agents, from 68,868 to 1,27,868, signals that political parties see high stakes in who makes it onto the final October roll — and who does not. The ECI's transparency in publishing booth-wise deletion lists is commendable, but digital access alone will not reach the voters most at risk of disenfranchisement.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were nearly 45 lakh voters deleted from the Andhra Pradesh electoral roll?
The deletions followed the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) conducted from 15 June to 24 July. Of the 45 lakh removed, 22.30 lakh had permanently shifted or were found absent, 15.22 lakh were deceased, and 7.37 lakh were enrolled at multiple locations.
How can a voter get their name restored to the Andhra Pradesh electoral roll?
Genuine voters whose names have been dropped can file a claim using Form-6 along with a prescribed declaration form during the claims and objections period, which runs from 31 July to 30 August. Lists of deleted names are available at ERO/AERO offices, local notice boards, polling stations, and the CEO's official website.
When will the final Andhra Pradesh electoral roll be published?
The final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on 3 October. Claims and objections filed between 31 July and 30 August will be disposed of by 28 September.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Andhra Pradesh?
The SIR is a structured enumeration exercise by the Election Commission of India to verify and update voter rolls. In Andhra Pradesh, the 2025 SIR ran from 15 June to 24 July, covering all 175 Assembly Constituencies with over 46,000 Booth Level Officers deployed.
How many voters participated in the SIR enumeration in Andhra Pradesh?
Out of 4,16,27,694 registered electors, 3,71,38,182 — or 89.22 per cent — submitted their enumeration forms by 24 July, according to Chief Electoral Officer Vivek Yadav.
