Sir Is Telangana Facing The Threat Of Losing 88 Lakh Votes

from the voter list in the name of revision.

The Election Commission’s preliminary verification exercise has identified more than 88 lakh voter records that require further examination ahead of the SIR process, scheduled to be conducted between June 25 and October 1.

According to the Chief Electoral Officer, a pre-SIR mapping and data-verification exercise detected anomalies in approximately 88,13,207 voter records across the state.

The disclosure has triggered fears that the Election Commission could remove a large number of names from the electoral rolls.

Election officials, however, clarified that the flagged records should not be treated as fake votes. They are entries that require further verification because of inconsistencies detected during digital analysis.

As part of the pre-SIR exercise, authorities digitally mapped more than 2.32 crore voter records out of Telangana’s total electorate of approximately 3.39 crore.

The information was cross-verified using previous electoral rolls, Elector Photo Identity Card details, family-linkage information, residential addresses and voter databases from other states.

The analysis found that nearly 37% of the mapped records contained some form of anomaly, leading to more than 88 lakh entries being flagged for detailed scrutiny.

The highest concentration of irregularities was reported in rapidly urbanising areas around Hyderabad.

Quthbullapur constituency recorded anomalies in nearly 78% of its voter records. Significant discrepancies were also found in Mahabubabad and Nizamabad districts.

The major issues detected include duplicate registrations across different states, multiple voter IDs linked to the same individual, unrealistic age differences among family members, incorrect family relationships, outdated residential addresses, incomplete documentation and other suspicious data patterns.

Election officials stressed that these are computer-generated indicators and do not amount to conclusive evidence of electoral fraud.

The next phase will involve field verification by Booth Level Officers, who will conduct door-to-door surveys, collect enumeration forms, verify voter identities and addresses, and issue notices in cases where duplicate registrations are suspected.

Authorities will also verify the records of deceased persons and voters who have permanently relocated, while helping eligible new voters enrol. Claims, objections and correction requests will be processed before the final electoral roll is published.

Officials emphasised that all 88 lakh flagged records will not be deleted. Genuine voters will remain on the rolls after verification, while only duplicate, incorrect or ineligible entries are likely to be removed.

The Election Commission has urged citizens to verify their voter details, cooperate with Booth Level Officers during field visits and submit corrections through Form 8 wherever necessary.

Election authorities maintain that an accurate electoral roll is essential for public confidence in the democratic process. They describe the SIR exercise as a crucial step towards improving the accuracy, transparency and reliability of Telangana’s voter database.