ECI to release draft electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh; political parties, public to get access

Uttar Pradesh: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will publish the draft electoral rolls of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, marking a key step in preparations for the state’s upcoming elections, officials said.

The exercise, conducted under the supervision of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and District Election Officers (DEOs), is aimed at ensuring transparency, accuracy and inclusivity in the voter registration process.

Officials said hard copies of the draft voters’ list will be shared with all recognised political parties in Uttar Pradesh. This will allow party representatives to scrutinise the rolls and raise objections or suggest corrections wherever discrepancies are identified, strengthening confidence in the electoral process.

In addition to physical copies, the draft electoral rolls will be uploaded on the official websites of the CEO and the respective DEOs. Online access is expected to enable voters to verify their details easily without visiting government offices, reflecting the ECI’s continued push to use technology for efficient election management.

The Commission will also publish online the lists of voters marked as absent, shifted, deceased or duplicate along with the draft rolls. Officials said this step is intended to improve the accuracy of the electoral database and prevent misuse of entries. Citizens and political parties can review these lists and submit objections if any names have been wrongly categorised.

Officials stressed that the publication of the draft voters’ list is part of an ongoing revision process. Claims and objections will be invited from the public, and necessary corrections will be made before the final electoral rolls are published.

With Uttar Pradesh heading into a politically significant period, the release of the draft electoral rolls is expected to set the tone for a transparent, participatory and credible electoral process, reaffirming the Election Commission’s commitment to ensuring that every eligible voter is registered.

IANS