In a significant move to clean up the electoral rolls, Varanasi district authorities have removed a staggering 5.73 lakh names from the voter list during a special revision drive. The massive exercise has brought the total number of voters in the holy city down from 31.53 lakh to 25.80 lakh.
Major Clean-Up of Electoral Database
The figures were officially revealed with the draft publication of voter lists at all booths across the district. This action is part of the Special Intensive Revision-2026 of assembly constituency electoral rolls. District Magistrate and District Election Officer Satyendra Kumar launched the voter registration campaign by lighting a lamp at a function held at Arya Mahila Inter College on Tuesday.
Out of the revised list of 25,80,502 voters, a concerning 1,62,680 entries are still categorized as "unmapped." This means these voters' details are not correctly linked to their respective polling stations or assembly segments. The DEO has issued strict instructions to all personnel involved in the revision to exercise extra vigilance while handling these unmapped cases.
Process for Claims and Objections
According to ADM (Administration) and Deputy DEO Vipin Kumar, notices will be issued to all voters in the unmapped category by the concerned election returning officials. Hearing proceedings for these cases will continue until February 27. The Election Commission of India has deployed a total of 210 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) to manage this extensive task.
The district election office has made a public appeal to all voters. If any citizen wishes to include a name, raise an objection to an existing entry, or correct details in the electoral roll, they must file the appropriate application by February 6. The applications must be submitted using the designated forms:
- Form 6 for inclusion of new names.
- Form 6A for Indian citizens living abroad.
- Form 7 for objections to existing entries or deletions.
- Form 8 for corrections in voter details.
These forms, submitted with a declaration, can be filed physically at the office of the Electoral Registration Officer or the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer. They can also be submitted at the concerned polling centre itself.
Embracing Digital Registration
In line with the push for digital governance, the election authorities have also emphasized the online option. Voters who prefer a digital process can submit their claims and objections through the official website www.voters.eci.gov.in or by using the ECINET mobile application.
In a step towards transparency and collaboration, DEO Satyendra Kumar visited the District Election Office at Tehsil Sadar. He distributed assembly-wise voter lists to representatives of all recognised political parties. During the meeting, he provided detailed information about the ongoing revision process and sought full cooperation from all political stakeholders to ensure a smooth and accurate update of the rolls.
This intensive revision in Varanasi, a high-profile parliamentary constituency, underscores the Election Commission's ongoing efforts to create error-free and updated electoral rolls, which are the cornerstone of a robust democratic process.
