SIR In UP: Over 3 Lakh ‘Missing’ Voters In Gorakhpur To Be Removed From Electoral Roll

A massive discrepancy in the electoral rolls has come to light during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign. Door-to-door verification conducted by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) has revealed that more than 300,000 voters are missing from their registered addresses.

With approximately 36 lakh registered voters in the district, the absence of such a significant number has raised serious questions about the accuracy of the current electoral system. Officials estimate that the district’s total voter count is set to decrease by over 324,000 by the end of the campaign.

Urban And Rural Discrepancies

The BLO reports indicate that the highest number of duplicate, bogus, shifted and deceased voters are concentrated in both urban and rural assembly constituencies.

Shifted Residents: A large section of the "missing" voters includes individuals who moved to the city for work, education, or business and registered there, while retaining their names on voter lists in their native villages or other districts.

Duplicate Entries: Under the strict guidelines of the SIR campaign, citizens can only be registered in one location. Many are now opting to retain their registration in their original villages or Nagar Panchayats, leading to their deletion from the city rolls.

Deceased And Absent: The verification has also flagged numerous names of voters who died years ago but remained on the list, as well as families who shifted residence long ago without updating their records.

"Purification" Of Voter List

The Election Department has termed this campaign the most critical process for the "purification of the voter list." Officials emphasied that retaining ineligible voters compromises electoral transparency and skews voter turnout data.

"The SIR campaign has clarified that a large demographic living in the city comprises natives of other districts who held voter cards here for convenience," an official stated. "Their duplicate entries are now being exposed and removed."

This major overhaul constitutes a significant "correction" that will directly impact the management and outcome of the upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

Historical Context: 1 Million Voters Added in 22 Years Data from the election office highlights a sharp trajectory in voter growth:

2003: The district had 26.68 lakh voters.

2025: The number has surged to 36.66 lakh.

Growth Rate: Approximately 150,000 to 200,000 new voters were added during each assembly election cycle since 2003, with male and female voters each increasing by roughly 500,000 in total.

Also Read: Ramgopal Yadav Terms SIR Campaign A Process To Delete Votes; Alleges Top Leaders Placed In ‘Doubtful Category’

Official Statement

Deputy District Election Officer Vineet Singh said, "During the SIR campaign so far, about 9 percent of the 3.6 million voters registered on the 2025 list have not been found at their sites. Many have shifted, have duplicate entries, or are deceased. Their names will be struck off the voter list." 

Also Read: Delhi MCD Bypolls Result 2025: BJP Registers Victory On 7 Seats, AAP Bags 3 And Congress One; Check Who Won Rekha Gupta's Ward