Election Commission of India Issues Clarification on Voter List and Related Allegations

Thane, Responding to recent media coverage following remarks made by the Hon’ble Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha concerning the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a detailed clarification addressing the allegations around electoral rolls and voter turnout.

The ECI stated that similar concerns were previously raised by the Indian National Congress (INC) following the November 2024 Assembly elections, to which the Commission responded on December 24, 2024, with a detailed reply. This reply remains publicly accessible on the official website of the Election Commission of India. However, in light of recurring public discourse, the Commission deemed it necessary to once again clarify key points.

On Voter Lists:

The Commission described the recent claims concerning the inclusion or exclusion of voter names as exaggerated. It emphasized that no centralized process exists under Indian election law for making such changes. According to the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and Voter Registration Rules, 1960, 288 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and nearly one lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs) across Maharashtra are responsible for preparing polling station-wise electoral rolls after conducting field verification.

These draft and final voter lists are shared with all recognized political parties, including the INC, who are also given ample opportunity to file objections or appeals. Any addition, deletion, or correction to the voter list is made only after a statutory application is submitted by an individual and verified under due process.

Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections in August 2024, a special summary revision was carried out, and both soft and hard copies of draft and final electoral rolls for each of the nearly one lakh polling stations were made available to all recognized political parties, including the INC.

On Voter Turnout Figures:

The Commission refuted claims about irregularities in voter data and termed the figures quoted in media reports as misleading. It provided the following verified statistics:

• From 2019 Assembly elections to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, 1.39 crore new voters were added and 1.07 crore names were deleted, resulting in a net increase of 32.25 lakh voters.
• From the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to the 2024 Assembly elections, 48.82 lakh new names were added, and 8 lakh names were deleted, marking a net gain of 40.81 lakh voters, including 26 lakh voters in the 18–29 age group.

On Voter Numbers vs Population Estimates:

The ECI clarified that voter registration is an application-based and verified process, and each entry in the electoral roll is reviewed and approved by the EROs in accordance with the law. Therefore, population estimates derived from statistical models cannot serve as a basis for the inclusion or exclusion of voters.

Role of BLAs and Political Parties:

The Commission highlighted that Polling Station Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties are involved throughout the voter list revision process. The INC had appointed 28,421 BLAs across Maharashtra, and no significant complaints were received from them or INC candidates during the election period. These issues, the ECI pointed out, were raised only after the declaration of election results.

Distribution of Voter Lists:

Voter lists are revised and updated annually through a participatory process. During this process, both draft and final rolls are distributed free of charge to all recognized political parties, including the INC. This process was followed in the 2009, 2014, 2019, and 2024 elections.

The complete electoral roll used for the 2024 Assembly elections is currently publicly available for download on the Commission’s official website.

On Accessing Electoral Rolls:

Under Rule 33 of the Voter Registration Rules, 1960, any citizen—including representatives of the INC—can obtain copies of the voter list by applying to the District Election Officer and paying the prescribed fee. This legal provision was reiterated in a May 22, 2025 letter by the Chief Electoral Officer of Maharashtra in response to a request from INC Members of Parliament. The Commission also emphasized that copies of the electoral rolls were already provided to the INC during the revision process.