Odisha Electoral Roll Sees 9.8 Lakh Deletions, Sparks Accuracy Concerns

Bhubaneswar, April 20: Nearly 9.8 lakh names have been deleted from Odisha’s electoral rolls in the latest revision, far exceeding the usual annual average of around 7 lakh deletions.

The sharp rise has triggered concerns about genuine voters being mistakenly excluded.

Officials admitted lapses in verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and have issued fresh guidelines to ensure stricter oversight.

Deceased voters’ names will now only be removed after Form‑7 submission by family members, while suspected duplicates will undergo detailed scrutiny before deletion.

Currently, around 2 lakh Form‑7 applications remain pending verification.

To minimize errors, authorities have mandated physical verification in at least 50% of cases.

A toll‑free helpline (1950) has been activated to help voters check their status, file complaints, and seek guidance.

The move underscores the challenge of balancing electoral integrity with protecting the rights of genuine voters, especially ahead of the upcoming Special Intensive Revision.