A large number of voters have been left out of Maharashtra’s draft electoral rolls following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), with some of the highest proportions recorded in densely populated constituencies in Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
An analysis by The Indian Express found that nearly 3.75 million voters across 38 Assembly constituencies with Muslim populations above 20 per cent were classified as “uncollectable”. This means their enumeration forms were not submitted during the revision exercise.
Across these constituencies, 77.49 per cent of voters were classified as uncollectable, compared with 21.14 per cent across Maharashtra.
High Numbers in Mumbai and MMR
Several constituencies recorded particularly high proportions of voters in the uncollectable category.
In Bhiwandi West, 72.44 per cent of voters were classified as uncollectable, while the figure was 10.49 per cent in Bhiwandi East.
Mumbra Kalwa recorded one of the highest figures, with 91.42 per cent of voters placed in the category. In Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, the figure stood at 31.42 per cent.
In Mumbai’s Chandivali constituency, 44.41 per cent of voters were classified as uncollectable. Sion Koliwada and Pune Cantonment also recorded figures of around 40 per cent.
The figures have drawn attention because several of these constituencies are among the most densely populated urban areas in the state.
Data Does Not Identify Muslim Voters
The analysis does not establish that Muslim voters were specifically removed from the draft electoral rolls.
The SIR data is not categorised by religion. Instead, the analysis examines constituencies where more than 20 per cent of the population is Muslim. Therefore, the available figures cannot establish how many of the voters classified as uncollectable are Muslims.
The data also shows that changes in the overall number of voters in a constituency cannot automatically be used to determine changes in its Muslim population.
Among voters classified as uncollectable, around 42.05 per cent were recorded as having permanently shifted. Another 35.59 per cent were classified as absent or missing.
Voters Can File Claims and Objections
Being classified as uncollectable at the draft stage does not necessarily mean that a voter has permanently lost their place on the electoral roll.
After the draft rolls are published, eligible voters can submit claims and objections if their names have been left out or if they have been incorrectly classified as absent, shifted or dead.
Election officials have urged voters to check the draft electoral rolls and contact the relevant Electoral Registration Officer if they find an error.
The claims and objections process will determine how many names are restored before the final electoral rolls are published.
