Hyderabad: The Telangana Chief Electoral Officer on Monday disclosed that draft electoral rolls published under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026 record large-scale pruning and discrepancies, with 73.39 lakh names deleted and nearly 92 lakh electors set to receive notices.
Summary of the SIR findings
Speaking at a press briefing, Chief Electoral Officer C Sudarshan Reddy said the Election Commission had collected enumeration forms from 78.30% of the state's total electorate of 3.38 crore. The exercise has revealed multiple categories of irregularities and unverified entries that prompted the deletions and notices.
- Deleted electors: 73.39 lakh
- Electors to be sent notices: 92 lakh
- Electors with anomalies: about 60 lakh
- Unmapped electors: around 32 lakh (could not be linked to the 2002 base roll)
Reddy said the state-level SIR process has been extensive: enumeration forms (EFs) were distributed to cover the registered electorate, but substantial portions either were not returned or showed defects on verification.
Breakdown of specific defects
The CEO’s office provided further details on the nature of removals and classifications behind the draft rolls.
| Category | Electors | Percentage (of total 3.38 cr) |
|---|---|---|
| Deceased | 9,22,229 | 2.73% |
| Shifted / Absent / Permanently moved | 57,46,803 | 16.99% |
| Duplicate enrolments | 6,70,203 | 1.98% |
In addition, Booth Level Officers reported that a significant number of enumeration forms were not returned because the person had moved to other states or union territories, could not be located, or did not submit the form by the cut-off date of August 10. Some individuals declined registration for various reasons, the CEO added.
“The participation in the SIR process in Telangana’s 33 districts has been overwhelming,” C Sudarshan Reddy said, while outlining the steps taken to display booth-wise lists and notify electors.
Public notices and next steps
The CEO’s office said lists indicating absent, shifted, dead or duplicate electors — whose names are not included in the draft rolls — have been displayed at the notice boards of respective Electoral Registration Officers (ERO) and Assistant EROs, as well as gram panchayat and municipal offices. These lists are also available on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website and district electoral officers’ portals.
Electors who did not submit enumeration forms but believe they remain eligible can still file claims. The draft publication initiates a period for claims and objections; procedures for inclusion, correction or objection are governed by the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. Where required, statutory forms (Form-6, Form-7, Form-8) must be used and supporting declarations supplied as specified.
Implications for voters and administration
The deletions and notices reflect both routine clean-up and a concentrated effort to resolve legacy mapping issues dating to the 2002 base roll. For many voters this will mean receiving communication from electoral authorities to confirm details or to respond to apparent discrepancies. The state administration will need to resolve unmapped entries and anomalies ahead of finalisation of rolls.
Election officials have emphasised that the draft stage is not final. Affected electors are advised to check booth-level lists, the CEO website and district portals, and to respond to any notice they receive within the timelines prescribed. Failure to do so may lead to exclusion from the final rolls until rectified through permitted procedures.
The SIR is part of a nationwide push to modernise electoral registers, reduce duplications and remove ineligible entries. Telangana’s findings underline the scale of data-cleaning required in a rapidly mobile population, particularly in urbanising districts such as Hyderabad.
Further updates and district-wise breakdowns are expected as the CEO’s office processes claims and issues final rolls in accordance with statutory timelines.
