The draft electoral roll released after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Odisha has revealed a significant reduction in the state's voter list. According to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), more than 20 lakh electors have been removed from the draft rolls, with Ganjam recording the highest number of deletions and Malkangiri witnessing the steepest percentage decline.
The large-scale revision has sparked political debate, with opposition parties questioning the extent of voter deletions and seeking greater transparency in the process.
Odisha SIR: Over 20 lakh electors removed from draft voter list
According to the draft electoral roll published on Sunday, Odisha's electorate has declined from 3.33 crore voters in the pre-SIR electoral roll to 3.13 crore in the draft roll, reflecting a reduction of 20.12 lakh electors.
The Election Commission said the deletions were carried out following field verification and prescribed procedures as part of the Special Intensive Revision.
Chief Electoral Officer R. Santhanagopalan said voters whose names are missing from the draft electoral roll can submit claims and objections until August 4. The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on September 6.
Ganjam records highest voter deletions in Odisha SIR
Among all districts, Ganjam witnessed the highest reduction in the number of electors.
The district's voter count declined from 29.99 lakh before the revision to 27.92 lakh in the draft roll, resulting in a reduction of 2.07 lakh voters.
Other districts recording major declines in absolute numbers include:
- Cuttack: 1.55 lakh voters deleted
- Mayurbhanj: 1.11 lakh voters deleted
- Jajpur: 1.05 lakh voters deleted
- Balangir: 99,258 voters deleted
Malkangiri records highest percentage decline
While Ganjam recorded the highest number of deletions, Malkangiri registered the sharpest proportional fall in its electorate.
The district's voter base dropped from 4.62 lakh to 4.15 lakh, a decline of 47,355 electors, representing a 10.25% reduction.
This means that more than one out of every ten voters in Malkangiri was removed from the draft electoral roll during the SIR exercise.
Other districts with significant percentage declines include:
- Cuttack: 7.44%
- Balangir: 7.39%
Migration-prone districts such as Malkangiri, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Ganjam and Balangir also recorded some of the sharpest percentage declines, raising concerns over the impact on migrant workers and residents in remote tribal areas.
Opposition raises concerns over voter deletions
The sharp fall in voter numbers has become a major political issue in Odisha, with opposition parties questioning the scale of deletions and demanding greater transparency in the Special Intensive Revision process.
Concerns have also been raised about whether migrant workers and vulnerable populations may have been disproportionately affected during the verification exercise.
Activist urges protection of migrant workers' voting rights
Reacting to the draft electoral roll, Ranjita Rana, a Balangir-based activist working for the rights of migrant workers, urged the CEO's office to ensure that eligible migrant voters are not excluded. "Many people working outside cannot return home during the SIR process. Their names should be included," Rana was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
Her remarks highlight concerns that workers employed outside their home districts may find it difficult to participate in the verification process, potentially affecting their inclusion in the final electoral roll.
What happens next?
The Election Commission has opened the claims and objections process for voters whose names are missing or require corrections in the draft electoral roll.
- Last date to file claims and objections: August 4
- Final electoral roll publication: September 6
Eligible voters are encouraged to verify their names in the draft electoral roll and complete the necessary formalities before the final list is published.
