In a major electoral exercise, the names of more than 10.56 lakh individuals have been struck off Assam's voter list. This significant purge comes just months before the state is scheduled to go to the polls for its Legislative Assembly elections.
What Led to the Massive Deletion?
The Election Commission of India (ECI) carried out a Special Revision of the electoral database, which concluded with the release of integrated draft rolls on Saturday. The primary aim was to clean the rolls by removing entries of deceased voters, individuals who have migrated out of their constituencies, and duplicate records. Officials also corrected errors in names, ages, and addresses during this process.
As a result, the total number of registered voters in Assam now stands at 2,51,09,754. This figure, however, does not include 93,021 D-voters (doubtful voters), whose details have been carried forward in the draft list without any changes.
Why a Separate Revision for Assam?
While a Special Intensive Revision is ongoing in 12 other states and Union Territories, the ECI ordered a distinct Special Revision exclusively for Assam. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar linked this move to the state's unique context under the Citizenship Act.
"Under the Citizenship Act, there are separate provisions for citizenship in Assam. Under the supervision of the Supreme Court, the exercise of checking citizenship is about to be completed," Kumar explained. This revision is positioned between the annual summary revision and the larger intensive revision process.
Understanding D-Voters and the Verification Process
D-voters are individuals in Assam who have been disenfranchised due to alleged discrepancies or gaps in their citizenship documents. They are identified by special tribunals constituted under the Foreigners Act, 1946. While they do not receive voter identity cards, their details are maintained in the draft rolls.
The groundwork for this revision was laid through an extensive door-to-door verification campaign conducted by election officials between November 22 and December 20 last year. Following the rationalisation of the rolls, Assam will now have a total of 31,486 polling stations for the upcoming elections.
The extensive cleanup operation underscores the Election Commission's drive to ensure an error-free and accurate electoral roll, a critical foundation for the democratic process in a state poised for a significant electoral battle in less than six months.
