In a significant move to clean up the electoral database, the Gorakhpur district administration has published a draft voters' list after a Special Intensive Revision (SIR), resulting in the removal of a staggering 6,45,625 names. The massive purge, carried out on Tuesday, aims to eliminate inaccuracies and duplicate entries, ensuring a more reliable electoral roll for upcoming elections.
Sharp Decline in Total Electorate
The extensive verification drive has led to a substantial reduction in the total number of voters in the district. The electorate has now shrunk from 36,66,533 to 30,20,908, marking a decrease of over 6.45 lakh individuals. District Magistrate and District Election Officer, Deepak Meena, stated that the exercise focused on identifying voters classified under four categories: Absent, Shifted, Duplicate, or Deceased (ASD).
Behind the Numbers: Reasons for Deletion
A detailed breakdown provided by officials reveals the primary reasons behind the large-scale deletion. The verification process found that approximately 3.20 lakh voters had permanently moved out of the Gorakhpur district. Furthermore, records confirmed that 1.33 lakh voters listed had passed away. Additionally, over 1.07 lakh individuals could not be traced at their registered addresses during the door-to-door verification exercise.
The cleanup was not uniform across all assembly segments. The Chillupaar Assembly segment witnessed the highest number of deletions, with 87,732 names being struck off. In contrast, the Sahjanwa segment recorded the least, with 61,130 names removed.
Mapping Progress and Future Steps
Deepak Meena informed that nearly 91% of voter mapping with the foundational 2003 electoral roll has been successfully completed. Notices will be issued to the remaining 9%, which accounts for around 3.22 lakh voters who could not be mapped. Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) will be responsible for serving these notices to ascertain the current status of these individuals.
In a related development, the district has also added 368 new polling booths across its jurisdiction following a booth rationalization process. This is expected to ease congestion and streamline the voting process on election day.
What Can Voters Do Now?
For citizens who find their names missing from the draft roll, the administration has outlined a clear recourse. Voters can apply for inclusion by submitting Form-6, accompanied by an affidavit that cites relevant details from the 2003 electoral roll. For objections against any entry, individuals can file Form-7, while corrections to existing details can be made using Form-8.
The draft electoral roll has been shared with all recognized political parties for scrutiny. Officials noted that no objections have been raised by any party so far. The publication of the draft marks a critical phase in the electoral revision process, allowing for public claims and objections before the final list is certified.
