Election Commission Opens Re-enrollment for 4.52 Crore Indian Voters

The Election Commission of India has directed Chief Electoral Officers in Delhi and six other states to provide a final opportunity for approximately 4.52 crore voters to be re-included in the final electoral roll. This directive targets individuals categorized as Absent, Shifted, Dead, or Duplicate (ASDD) who were omitted during a Special Intensive Revision.

Maharashtra saw the highest number of deletions at 2.06 crore, followed by Telangana with 73.39 lakh, Delhi with 47.56 lakh, Andhra Pradesh with 44.89 lakh, Jharkhand with 43.61 lakh, Haryana with 33.83 lakh, and Nagaland with 1.57 lakh. The decision follows an October 28 Supreme Court of India hearing, where the court questioned the requirement for deleted voters to use Form 6, a document typically reserved for first-time enrollment.

To facilitate re-inclusion, the Commission waived the Form 8 requirement for voters who shifted residence within the same state, allowing them to submit enumeration forms with a specific statement instead. Booth-wise lists of excluded voters will be posted at polling stations and uploaded to official websites. Booth Level Officers will also conduct house-to-house visits and use electronic means, including WhatsApp and email, to contact eligible voters. Submissions can be made physically or online via the ECINET app and website, with special provisions allowing homeless persons to use field verification reports as proof of residence.