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2 September 2026

Delhi electoral roll revision and voter exclusions

The topic concerns the functioning of the Election Commission of India and the integrity of the electoral roll, which are core components of the Representation of the People Act and constitutional governance.

2 min read Day 71 of 76 2 questions 1 prelims

Notes

  • The Election Commission of India is conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive for the Delhi electoral rolls.
  • A total of 47.56 lakh exclusions were recorded in the draft electoral roll.
  • Exclusions are categorized under ASDD: Absent, Shifted, Dead, and Duplicate.
  • ‘Permanently shifted’ accounts for the largest share of deletions (31.59 lakh), followed by ‘untraceable/absent’ (11.73 lakh), ‘dead’ (2.82 lakh), and ‘duplicate/already enrolled’ (1.41 lakh).
  • Data analysis shows a high concentration of single-reason deletions in specific polling booths, with 1,042 booths attributing over 95% of removals to the ‘permanently shifted’ category.
  • Concerns have been raised regarding the transparency of the deletion process and the potential exclusion of vulnerable groups, such as migrant workers and tenants.
  • The Delhi High Court dismissed a PIL regarding the inclusion of homeless persons, noting that existing mechanisms already provide for the enrolment of individuals without a fixed address.

Part of a longer story

This is day 71 of 76 in Election Commission of India electoral roll revision exercises, which has been running since 21 June 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

Questions

  1. Discuss the role of the Election Commission in maintaining the integrity of electoral rolls. How do mechanisms like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) ensure the accuracy of the voter list while balancing the right to franchise? 150 words
    Attempt this — 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00
  2. The periodic revision of electoral rolls is essential for a robust democracy, yet it poses challenges regarding the inclusion of marginalized and mobile populations. Analyze the systemic challenges in identifying and retaining migrant workers and the homeless in electoral rolls. What administrative reforms are necessary to ensure that the process of identifying 'Absent, Shifted, Dead, and Duplicate' (ASDD) voters does not lead to the disenfranchisement of eligible citizens? 250 words
    Attempt this — 250 words in 11 min
    0 / 250 words 11:00

Prelims

  1. In the context of the Election Commission's electoral roll revision, what does the acronym 'ASDD' stand for?

Syllabus

Topics

Sources

250words.in · https://250words.in/daily/2026-09-02/delhi-electoral-roll-revision-and-voter-exclusions