Phase II Voter List Clean-Up: UP Tops Deletions, Bengal 5th
Phase II Voter List Clean-Up: UP Tops Deletions, Bengal 5th
Phase II of voter list revisions trims 10.2% across 12 states and UTs; UP leads deletions, Bengal ranks fifth, and many changes come through adjudication.
Phase II of the nationwide voter-list revision, known as SIR Phase II, has wrapped up with a 10.2% cut in names across 12 states and union territories. In total, 5.18 crore names were removed, bringing the consolidated voters' list to about 45.81 crore names. The numbers indicate a concerted effort to clean the rolls by weeding out absent, shifted, and dead electors, as well as those identified through adjudication.
Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest net deletions in absolute terms, removing 2.04 crore voters from the rolls. Lakshadweep, by contrast, saw the smallest cut, with only 181 deletions. West Bengal ranked fifth in net deletions and third in the absolute tally of absent, shifted, and dead electors removed, signaling a substantial cleanup in a state that has faced scrutiny over list integrity. Bengal also stood second only to UP in the number of deceased voters dropped from the lists, underscoring the phase's impact on removing long-standing ineligible entries. Additions to the list were the lowest among major states during this phase, suggesting the process leaned more heavily on deletions than on new enrollments.
Across the 12 states and UTs, the core driver of the reductions has been adjudication—formal verification that voters are still eligible and properly registered. The overall trend points to a more streamlined electoral roll, though officials acknowledge the challenge of balancing accuracy with broad inclusion. As Phase II closes, authorities are expected to publish a consolidated list and outline further steps to ensure transparency, with ongoing maintenance to keep the rolls current before the next electoral cycle.
