Sambhal SIR: Over 20% Voters Removed; Minister Gulab Devi’s Constituency Sees Biggest Cuts

 Sambhal. The first phase of the SIR (Systematic Electoral Registration) process to make the voter list more accurate in the Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh has been completed. During this time, the administration thoroughly investigated the voter list and found that there are a large number of names which should no longer be in the list. As a result, about 20.32 percent of voters in the district have been temporarily excluded from the list.

How many names were removed, and why?

According to District Magistrate Dr. Rajendra Pensia, a total of 1,570,306 voters were registered in Sambhal district in the first phase. Of these, 319,006 names were removed from the list by keeping them in the ASD (Absent, Shifted, Deceased) category. This means that they are considered absent, shifted to another location, dead or duplicate.

The DM says the goal is only one—to make the voter list clean and reliable so that the upcoming elections are not marred by any wrong name.

What is the status of voters with no mapping?

Another category emerged in the list revision—No Mapping.

This is a situation where the voter's record could not be properly matched with the old documents. 6.87 percent of voters were found in the district whose data did not match in the system. They are still being given a chance to clarify their position by providing documents. Their names can be added back after correct confirmation.

Officials say that if someone's name has been wrongly removed, then there is no need to panic.

Voters can contact their Booth Level Officer (BLO) or fill out the claim-objection form.

Which assembly is most affected?

The direct impact of this phase of SIR was visible on all the assembly seats of the district.

The maximum decrease was recorded in the Chandausi (SC) seat, where 99,183 votes decreased.

After this the sequence was as follows:

Gunnaur: 95,313 names less

Sambhal: 73,727 names removed

Asmoli: 50,781 names less

It can be understood from these figures that the scope of the amendment is not trivial but wide at the ground level.

What do ASD and no-mapping mean in common language?

ASD (Absent, Shifted, Deceased):

Voters who were removed as dead, shifted, absent, or duplicate.

No mapping:

Those whose records did not match correctly, especially with older data from 2003 or earlier.

According to DM Pensia, this exercise is not to harass anyone. The real objective is to ensure that old, incorrect, or duplicate entries are removed so that only genuine and active voters remain in the list at the time of elections.

What should voters do next?

If anyone believes their name has been removed by mistake, they should take these steps:

Contact with BLO

Submit required documents

Filling the claim-objection form

Providing information within stipulated time limit

Necessary steps towards strengthening the democratic process

This major cleansing of the voter list in Sambhal has definitely created a stir in the figures, but the administration considers it a necessary step towards strengthening the democratic process. The challenge ahead will be to maintain a clear distinction between the names that have been removed for the right reasons and those which have been removed by mistake and eligible voters can be included in the list again in time.