12 August,2026 08:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on October 27. Representational pic
Around 1.8 crore voters in Maharashtra may face deletion from the draft electoral roll as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls 2026, according to data shared by the State Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam on Wednesday, news agency IANS reported.
Of the state's total 9,78,54,049 electors, Enumeration Forms have been distributed to 9,69,54,766 voters, or 99.08 per cent, Chockalingam said at a press conference after chairing a meeting with political parties.
However, only 7,60,98,153 forms, or 77.77 per cent, have been returned, signed, and digitised.
A total of 1,80,60,697 forms, or 18.46 per cent, remain uncollected under the ASDD category, which covers electors who are Absent, Shifted, Deceased, or Duplicate. Action is pending in the case of another 36,95,199 electors, accounting for 3.78 per cent.
Maharashtra may therefore see around 1.80 crore voters deleted from the draft electoral roll.
"The number is not unusual, and we have seen deletion of around 13-18 per cent at national level in other states," Chockalingam said.
He said voters facing deletion could submit Form 6 to register as voters.
Election authorities said the proportion of ASDD electors was particularly high in urban centres, including Thane, Nagpur, Mumbai, Pune, Palghar, and Raigad.
In Mumbai and Mumbai Suburban districts, 63 per cent of forms have been digitised, while 30 per cent remain uncollected under the ASDD category.
Under the revised timeline, the deadline for collecting Enumeration Forms from electors is August 17.
The Draft Electoral Roll will be published on August 24, following which citizens will have until September 23 to file claims and objections. The final electoral roll is scheduled to be published on October 27.
To ensure that eligible voters are not left out of the electoral roll, District Election Officers have been instructed to enforce strict verification protocols.
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will hold joint meetings with Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of political parties and provide them with ASDD lists.
BLOs and BLAs will also conduct door-to-door visits at designated residences to assist voters in submitting their forms.
Meeting minutes will have to be recorded and uploaded on ECINET through the BLO App, while ASDD lists will be published on official district websites.
Authorities said voters who refuse to accept, sign or submit the Enumeration Form will not be included in the Draft Electoral Roll.
To prevent duplicate entries across electoral rolls, the commission is using Photo Similar Entries (PSE) and Data Similar Entries (DSE) checks.
Where an elector appears at multiple locations, their enumeration form will be accepted only at their current primary residence. Other entries will be flagged with the remark "Already Enrolled" under the Uncollectable EF category.
Under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, making a false statement or declaration in connection with electoral rolls is a punishable offence carrying imprisonment of up to one year, a fine, or both.
Sections 17 and 18 prohibit registration in more than one place.
Copies of the Draft Electoral Roll, both hard and soft copies, will be made available at government offices, district websites and the Chief Electoral Officer's portal, and will also be distributed to recognised political parties.
Eligible citizens whose names do not appear in the draft roll, as well as new voters who turn 18 on or before October 1, 2026, can apply for inclusion using Form 6 during the claims period.
Objections to entries in the draft roll can be submitted using Form 7.
The State Election Commission has also directed local body authorities to extend full cooperation, as the Assembly electoral rolls will be used for upcoming Local Authority elections.
(With IANS inputs)
