Mumbai electoral roll revision: Over 30 lakh deceased, migrated names removed; CEO warns against wrongful exclusions

More than 30 lakh names of deceased or migrated voters have been removed from Mumbais electoral rolls as part of the Special Intensive Revision SIR but Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam has told election officials to ensure that the exercise does not result in any eligible voter being left outChockalingam issued the direction while addressing Election Registration Officers EROs and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers AEROs at a training programme for the Electoral Roll Special Intensive Revision 2026 in Vile Parle on WednesdayAccording to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC Mumbais original electoral roll had around one crore voters More than 30 lakh names have now been removed after the exercise identified voters who had died or shifted elsewhereWith the deletion exercise completed officials have been asked to carefully verify information submitted through Form 7 which is used to seek deletion of a name from the electoral rollChockalingam said a police complaint should be filed if anyone is found attempting to submit false information through Form 7One eligible citizen should not be excluded from the electoral roll and no ineligible person should be included in the electoral roll This is the Election Commissions main policy Chockalingam statedOfficials asked to contact voters during claims objectionsThe next stage will involve hearings on claims and objections related to the draft electoral rolls Chockalingam directed officials to ensure that people concerned are properly informed about the hearingsApart from issuing notices officials have been asked to contact the persons concerned by telephone and request them to attend the hearings If there is no response a copy of the order should be sent to their WhatsApp numberThose unable to attend a hearing may have their relatives appear on their behalf and submit proof of citizenship Chockalingam saidHe also asked BoothLevel Officers BLOs to ensure that no eligible voters name is left out of the electoral rollTo make it easier for voters to locate their changed polling stations hearing camps should wherever possible be held at the new polling stations he saidResidence proof need not be submitted againFor voters whose residencerelated documents were already verified during the first stage of the exercise officials need not collect the proof again Chockalingam saidThe focus should now be on verifying citizenship and other required documentsDocuments available with citizens from the list prescribed by the Election Commission for establishing citizenship should be accepted he saidDetailed scrutiny of citizenship documents should be carried out only where there are doubts Chockalingam said adding that decisions on applications should be based on the documents availableHe also cautioned officials against causing unnecessary inconvenience to citizens in the name of inquiryDecisions should be taken solely on the basis of the documents available while scrutinising applications Chockalingam saidSpecial camps planned for young new votersThe electoral roll revision will also focus on young people who have recently become eligible to voteChockalingam directed officials to organise special camps for young people and students who turned 18 after October 24 2024 and facilitate the submission of Form 6 for their inclusion in the electoral rollHe asked officials to take the necessary steps at the college level and work with educational institutions to identify new voters and ensure that the applicants themselves fill Form 6EROs AEROs told to complete exercise in two monthsChockalingam asked EROs and AEROs to complete the exercise over the next two months while following the Election Commissions rules and guidelinesHe said officials should work transparently and without succumbing to any pressure or interferenceThe training programme was held at Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Natyagruha in Vile Parle Krishna Jadhav Electoral Registration Officer of the Byculla Assembly constituency 184 conducted a twosession training programme for EROs and AEROs through a computer presentationAdditional District Election Officer and Additional Municipal Commissioner City Prajakta VermaLavangare Additional District Election Officer and Additional Municipal Commissioner Western Suburbs Dr Vipin Sharma Additional District Election Officer and Additional Municipal Commissioner Projects Abhijit Bangar Additional District Election Officer and Mumbai City District Collector Anchal Goyal Additional District Election Officer and Mumbai Suburban District Collector Saurabh Katiyar and BMC Joint Municipal Commissioner Assessment and Collection Vishwas Shankarwar were among those present