UP Voter List Cleanup: 2.89 Crore Names Deleted in 2026 SIR

Massive Cleanup: 2.89 Crore Voters Deleted from UP Draft Rolls

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Navdeep Rinwa, announced on January 6, 2026, that nearly 2.89 crore voters have been removed from the state’s draft electoral rolls following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR). This massive “cleanup” operation results in an 18.70% reduction of the total electorate, the highest absolute deletion in any Indian state or UT.

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1. Breakdown of Deletions: Why the Names were Cut

The revision process aimed to eliminate ineligible entries based on door-to-door verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs).

• Final Retained Count: The draft list now stands at 12,55,56,025 (12.55 Crore) voters.

• Original Count (Oct 2025): 15,44,30,092 (15.44 Crore) voters.

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2. Urban Centers Hit Hardest

Urban districts saw significantly higher deletion percentages compared to rural areas, reflecting high migration rates and administrative oversight in previous years.

• Lucknow: 30.04% deleted (Highest in UP).

• Ghaziabad: 28% deleted (~8.18 lakh voters).

• Kanpur: 25% deleted.

• Prayagraj: 24% deleted.

• Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida): 23.7% deleted.

Note: Nationally, Andaman and Nicobar recorded the highest percentage of deletions at 21%, followed by Uttar Pradesh (18.7%), Tamil Nadu (15.2%), and Gujarat (14.5%).

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3. Political Row & The “Burden of Proof”

The large-scale removal has sparked a political controversy.

• Opposition Allegations: The Congress party and other opposition leaders have alleged that names from marginalized sections (OBCs, Dalits) were selectively targeted. They have announced a “mass movement” against the deletions.

• The 2003 Rule: Voters marked as “untraceable” or “missing” are now required to show proof that they were included in the 2003 SIR list or provide specific ECI-mandated documents to get their names back.

4. What to do if your name is missing?

The Election Commission has opened a one-month window for voters to verify their status and seek re-inclusion.

• Check Online: Visit ceouttarpradesh.nic.in or voters.eci.gov.in and enter your EPIC number.

• Important Dates:

  • Claims & Objections Window: January 6, 2026 – February 6, 2026.

  • Scrutiny Period: Until February 27, 2026.

  • Final Electoral Roll Publication: March 6, 2026.

• Action: If your name is missing, file Form-6 for fresh registration. Use Form-8 for any corrections.

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