Assam Draft Rolls Out, Over 10.5 Lakh Names Cut

The Election Commission of India has released the integrated draft electoral rolls for Assam following a Special Intensive Revision exercise, leading to the deletion of more than 10.5 lakh names from the voter list ahead of the state Assembly elections due later this year.

According to the draft rolls published on Saturday, Assam now has 2,51,09,754 registered voters. This figure excludes 93,021 individuals classified as D-voters, or doubtful voters, whose citizenship status remains under verification.

The Commission said a total of 10,56,291 entries were removed during the revision process. The deletions were attributed to factors such as the death of voters, permanent migration out of the state, and duplication of names across electoral rolls.

Election officials said the special revision was carried out to improve the accuracy and integrity of the voter database as the state prepares for polls in less than six months. The exercise involved verification at multiple levels to ensure that only eligible voters remain on the rolls.

The draft rolls will remain open for public scrutiny, allowing citizens to file claims and objections within the stipulated period. Eligible voters whose names are missing can apply for inclusion, while objections can be raised against incorrect entries before the final rolls are published.

The updated electoral rolls are expected to play a key role in ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process in Assam, where voter data has often been a sensitive and closely watched issue.