Over 2.4 Million Voters Removed from Electoral Rolls in Kerala After SIR; Election Commission Releases Draft List

Thiruvananthapuram: Following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has removed more than 24.08 lakh voters from Kerala’s voter list. The draft electoral roll was released on Tuesday, marking a significant update ahead of future elections.

According to official data, out of a total of 27,850,855 registered voters in the state, 25,442,352 voters submitted their enumeration forms during the revision exercise. The remaining names were deleted for various verified reasons, the Election Commission said.

Reasons for Deletion of Names

In a detailed statement, the ECI explained that voter deletions occurred due to multiple factors. These included voters who had migrated and registered in other states or Union Territories, those who were no longer residing at their registered addresses, and individuals who failed to submit enumeration forms by the December 18 deadline. Some voters also expressed unwillingness to continue their registration.

The breakdown of deleted names includes:

• 6,49,885 voters (2.33%) identified as deceased
• 14,61,769 voters (5.25%) who had shifted residence or were untraceable
• 1,36,029 voters (0.49%) found registered in more than one location

Claims and Objections Window Open

The Election Commission announced that the enumeration process concluded on Tuesday. However, from December 23 to January 22, 2026, citizens can file claims or objections to include eligible voters or remove ineligible names from the rolls.

To ensure transparency and maximum participation, the Commission said extensive awareness campaigns were conducted during the enumeration process. Chief Electoral Officers, District Electoral Officers, and Electoral Registration Officers carried out large-scale outreach initiatives and held multiple meetings with political parties to explain procedures and share progress updates.

Role of Booth-Level Officials

Booth Level Officers (BLOs) played a crucial role in the exercise, holding meetings with Booth Level Agents (BLAs) at the grassroots level. BLAs were permitted to submit up to 50 enumeration forms per day to ensure effective participation.

BLOs conducted door-to-door visits to all voters whose names appeared on the rolls as of October 27, distributing enumeration forms and making at least three visits to each household to facilitate submission. Volunteers and booth-level agents also made special efforts to ensure that no eligible voter was left out, the Commission said.

The Election Commission emphasized that the revision exercise was aimed at maintaining the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls, while providing ample opportunity for corrections before final publication.