Lakhs apply, few turn up: What UP’s special voter camps reveal

Uttar Pradesh’s State Election Commission has received over 5 lakh applications to be included in the electoral rolls during special camps that concluded on October 24. However, turnout at the polling booths where the camps were held was lukewarm.

The applications come amid mounting criticism over irregularities in the electoral rolls. They include first-time voters and those who were excluded after the SIR exercise concluded in April this year.

The large number of applications contrasts sharply with the tepid turnout of voters at the camps. This has raised questions over the mobilisation of affected voters by BLOs, BLAs and workers of political parties.

Camp response

The State Election Commission had organised special camps on October 17 and 24 to help register new voters and rectify the irregularities that crept in during the SIR exercise concluded in April. The response on the ground appeared muted. BLOs say, however, that they were flooded with forms collected over the week during door-to-door surveys and through the “Book a call with BLO” facility.

Workers of opposition parties said that verifying voters and including those removed from the rolls after the SIR is an ongoing exercise. They are collecting documents of all such voters and regularly submitting them to BLOs for verification.

Political reactions

Senior journalist Pramod Goswami said: “However, there was little outreach or campaigning, and political parties failed to mobilise their workers. In Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party activated its entire cadre to prevent wrongful voter deletions.”

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Samajwadi Party spokesperson Manoj Yadav said: “A comprehensive Special Summary Revision (SSR) has just taken place at polling booths. Everyone has taken steps to register as a voter and complete the required formalities. The SSR process includes adding new voters. If irregularities are found, as in Pilibhit, where around 13,500 votes were found to be problematic, the Election Commission must correct them.”

Voter’s view

Nandlal Singh Yadav, a voter in Uttar Pradesh, said: “My name is Nandlal Yadav and my father’s name is Sitaram. My voter ID card should be prepared on the basis of my Aadhaar card. They asked for all sorts of documents, and despite submitting them, my name has not been registered.”

He added: “I have come here to check whether or not my name has been added to the electoral rolls.”

The special camps have concluded, but the State Election Commission says that those seeking inclusion or rectification of their details can still apply under the ongoing “No voters left behind” campaign.

Form 6 changes

This time, Aadhaar has been included among the six documents accepted as proof of date of birth and the seven accepted as proof of address under Form 6. The provision is particularly relevant for economically weaker and marginalised citizens, who may lack birth certificates, educational records or other documents.

The commission says voter registration has been further simplified. The standard statutory Form 6 is now used without requiring applicants to establish links with the 2003 electoral rolls.

Key dates

The Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has said all claims and objections filed during these special camps will be considered for inclusion in the November 12 draft electoral roll. This is subject to scrutiny and completion of the prescribed registration process.

Claims and objections received during the SSR will be finally disposed of by December 28.

The final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on January 4, 2027.

Pilibhit allegations

The revision of the rolls comes amid mounting allegations of irregularities and discrepancies. Earlier this week, the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee alleged that over 13,000 bogus voters were added in the Pilibhit constituency.

Rajendra Pal Gautam, Congress in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, said: “In Assembly Constituency No. 127, Pilibhit Sadar, a total of 13,150 names were changed and 804 names were deleted, even though those people are still living there. They submitted applications stating that they were present and questioning how their names could have been removed from the voter list.”

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He added: “Another 2,600 voters were added, but they do not live at the addresses listed. Our team visited and verified these addresses, and found that these people were not residing there. So, a total of 16,550 voters have been affected by this alleged manipulation in a single Assembly constituency.”

Congress charge

Congress national spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said: “This fight, under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, is being waged by the entire Opposition and the people of this country.”

She added: “All opposition parties have taken this issue to the Supreme Court because we want to strengthen the fight against the injustice meted out by the Election Commission. The government remains unmoved, reflecting its arrogant attitude. But people now understand what is happening, and they will teach the BJP a lesson.”

“We once again appeal to the public to check their EPIC numbers online and ensure that their names have neither been removed from the electoral rolls nor misused. Just as the names of 13,150 voters in the Pilibhit constituency were allegedly manipulated, the same could happen to you,” she said.

Officers suspended

Following the allegations, the State Election Commission suspended two officers. It said it found discrepancies and irregularities in over 10,000 voters in the constituency.In the 2022 Assembly polls, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sanjay Gangwar won the seat by a margin of less than 7,000 votes.

The Samajwadi Party has alleged that similar irregularities and alleged vote theft have been reported in over 100 Assembly constituencies across the state. It has directed its workers to identify such cases and make them public.

SP’s claims

SP leader Akhilesh Yadav said: “In Lucknow’s Sarojini Nagar constituency, a man named Dashrath was caught submitting more than 100 Form 7 applications to get voters’ names removed from the electoral rolls. Samajwadi Party workers, leaders and organisational members caught him. Following the SP’s complaint, the Election Commission had to acknowledge that the party’s grievance was valid. Yet, no action was taken against any official.”

He added: “Similarly, in Sultanpur, fake signatures were allegedly obtained in the name of Nandlal Nishad, who does not even know how to sign his name. Form 7 applications were submitted using these forged signatures in an alleged attempt to get voters’ names deleted. Those involved were caught then as well, but neither the officials concerned nor the Election Commission took any action.”

Pramod Goswami said: “The opposition made allegations but failed to prevent valid votes from being deleted or help eligible voters register. This eventually led to the suspension of the officials involved. These developments give some support to the opposition’s allegations that votes were improperly added or deleted.”