SIR: 16.4% names deleted from Haryana draft voter list, 10% in Andhra Pradesh

More than 16 percent of voters in Haryana and nearly 10.8 percent in Andhra Pradesh have been removed from draft electoral rolls following a special revision process, according to reports. The changes were made public on Friday after the enumeration phase ended in both states on July 24. In Haryana alone, over 33.8 million names were deleted, while Andhra Pradesh saw the removal of nearly 45 million entries. In Haryana, 24.1 million voters, accounting for 11.6 percent of the total electorate, were removed due to permanent relocation or absence during the revision period. Over 7.6 million names were deleted after being marked as deceased, and more than 2 million were removed due to duplication errors. These figures represent a significant portion of the state's voter base and highlight the scale of the revisions. Andhra Pradesh followed a similar pattern, with 22.3 million voters, representing 5.3 percent of its electorate, being removed for reasons including relocation or absence. Nearly 15.2 million names were deleted after being marked as deceased, and over 7.3 million were taken off due to duplication issues. This accounts for roughly 3.6 percent and 1.7 percent of the electorate respectively. Both states have set aside time for voters to challenge their removals. Between July 31 and August 30, individuals affected by these deletions will have the opportunity to present their cases. After this period, the final electoral rolls will be published, incorporating any valid objections received. The deletions in Haryana rank among the highest recorded so far, placing them third behind Arunachal Pradesh, which saw 19.09 percent of its voters removed, and Uttar Pradesh, where 18.7 percent were deleted. The revision process in Arunachal Pradesh is still ongoing, whereas Uttar Pradesh completed its phase in April. Haryana and Andhra Pradesh are part of the third phase of the nationwide special intensive revision exercise, which involves 16 states and three union territories. Earlier phases included Bihar in 2025 and an extension to 12 additional states and union territories in late 2025 and early 2026. Concerns have been raised that the process might inadvertently remove legitimate voters from the rolls, potentially influencing electoral outcomes. Prior to the current phase, more than 22 million names were removed from the voter lists of four other states, Odisha, Manipur, Mizoram, and Sikkim. These deletions represented approximately 6.1 percent of the voters in those regions' previous electoral rolls. The Supreme Court recently affirmed the legal validity of the revision process. However, it emphasized that the exercise should not be interpreted as granting the Election Commission authority to determine citizenship status. This clarification underscores the need for careful handling of voter data to prevent potential disenfranchisement. The revision process continues to unfold across multiple states, with each phase revealing new insights into the complexities of maintaining accurate electoral records. As the third phase progresses, the impact of these changes on upcoming elections remains under close observation.