9.8 lakh deletions in Odisha’s voter rolls after electoral mapping process
As many as 9.8 lakh voters have been deleted from the electoral rolls since the commencement of the elector mapping process ahead of the Special
As many as 9.8 lakh voters have been deleted from the electoral rolls since the commencement of the elector mapping process ahead of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Odisha. “Approximately 9.8 lakh deletions have been carried out by the Electoral Registration Officers since the commencement of the elector mapping process. However, a substantial number of complaints have been received regarding wrongful deletion of names, including cases where electors were found to be present and instances where Booth Level Officers had neither conducted field visits nor carried out proper verification prior to deletion,” the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) wrote to the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) on April 18.
Odisha distributes voter roll revision forms to 99% electors; 34.5% digitised According to the Office of the CEO, around two lakh Form-7 applications received after April 2, 2026 have been kept on hold. Form-7 is filed for objecting to the inclusion of another person’s or one’s own name on the electoral roll on specific grounds, including death, duplication, or shifting of residence. The EROs have been instructed to carry out door-to-door survey, and physically verify the authenticity of voter rolls, which impacts final deletion. “In case of death cases, names of deceased electors should be deleted only after due verification and following prescribed procedure. Ideally, Form-7 should have been submitted by a near relative or family member.
Prior to deletion, notice must be served at the last known address of the elector,” the letter from the Office of the CEO said. The EROs have also been asked that all Demographic Similar Entries cases must be thoroughly verified. “In cases of suspected duplicates or doubtful matches, notices should be issued to the concerned electors and due process must be followed before taking any action,” the letter said. EROs and Additional EROs or their authorised representatives should physically verify at least 50% of Form-7 applications received after April 2, 2026 by personally contacting the applicants. Moreover, notices must be served to the elector at the last known address, and all statutory procedures must be followed, the letter said.
In cases where deletion has already been carried out wrongfully, the elector should be re-enrolled immediately with due diligence and care, the Office of the CEO also said. “Upon completion of the verification process, the ERO will furnish a written certificate confirming that at least 50% of the cases have been physically verified and that all prescribed procedures have been duly followed prior to deletion,” the letter said. The number of deletions carried out in Odisha was significantly lower than in other States, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer R.S. Gopalan told the media.
The BriefWire