UP Panchayat Elections: 5 Million Names May Be Deleted from Voter List, Who Are These People?

The voter list revision exercise ahead of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Panchayat elections has revealed massive duplication and irregularities in electoral rolls across the state. Officials estimate that around 50 lakh (5 million) names could be removed from the voter list after verification, affecting electoral eligibility in upcoming polls.

A comprehensive audit conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) exposed widespread duplication with many voters appearing two or more times across various districts and blocks. Districts such as Pilibhit, Varanasi, Bijnor, and Hapur are among the worst affected, with Pilibhit’s Puranpur block alone recording nearly 97,000 duplicate entries.

The verification process involves cross-checking voters’ names, their parent’s names, and genders to identify and remove repeated or fake entries. So far, 108 blocks in UP have over 40,000 duplicate entries each — including major ones in Varanasi, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, and other districts.

The Election Commission has initiated a large-scale clean-up similar to a Special Intensive Revision (SIR), dispatching block-wise lists to district authorities to urgently correct records. This exercise is critical to ensure free, fair, and transparent Panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh.

The voter list revision not only targets duplicate or fake voters but also removes deceased persons and those who have shifted residences. Political parties have welcomed the effort, citing the need for accurate rolls to reflect genuine voter strength before the three-tier Panchayat polls.

The revision process aims to finalize the electoral rolls soon, with authorities working under strict timelines to compile updated lists and prevent any discrepancies on election day.

This large-scale voter list overhaul in Uttar Pradesh highlights the Election Commission’s commitment to clean and credible elections, helping to maintain the integrity of democratic processes ahead of the crucial Panchayat polls.