Maharashtra SIR 2026: Over 2 Crore Voters Missing From Draft Roll — What Should You Do?
Maharashtra’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has reached a crucial stage. The draft electoral roll published on 31 August 2026 shows that 2,06,88,487 electors — 21.14% of the state’s previous electoral roll — have not been included in the draft list. The draft currently contains 7,71,65,562 electors, compared with 9,78,54,049 electors before the SIR exercise. (The Indian Express)
But there is an important point voters should understand:
Being absent from the draft roll does not automatically mean that your name has been permanently deleted from the electoral roll.
The Election Commission has provided an opportunity for eligible voters to file claims and objections during the next stage of the process. (The Indian Express)
What is SIR?
Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is an electoral-roll revision exercise conducted by the Election Commission to verify and update voter information.
The purpose is to identify genuine eligible electors, update records and address entries relating to voters who may have shifted, died, been registered elsewhere, or have duplicate entries.
For Maharashtra, the enumeration phase involved collecting Enumeration Forms from existing electors. Where these forms could not be collected, the elector was not included in the draft electoral roll. (eshala)
The Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra, also provides dedicated SIR services, including the draft roll, ASDD information, SIR-2002 search, BLO information and help-desk details. (Chief Election Officer Maharashtra)
Why are more than 2 crore names missing?
According to the election authorities, the Enumeration Forms of 2,06,88,487 electors could not be collected.
The reasons include:
- The voter was absent from the registered address.
- The voter had shifted residence.
- The elector was reported dead.
- The person was found to have a duplicate or multiple registration.
- The elector was enrolled elsewhere.
- Other circumstances in which the Enumeration Form could not be collected. (India Today)
This distinction matters.
The headline figure of more than 2 crore does not mean that 2 crore eligible citizens have been conclusively found ineligible. It represents electors whose names could not be included in the draft roll at this stage because their enumeration forms were not collected.
The draft process is specifically designed to allow such cases to be raised and corrected.
Maharashtra's Draft Electoral Roll in Numbers
ParticularNumberElectors before SIR9,78,54,049Included in draft roll7,71,65,562Not included in draft2,06,88,487Share not included21.14%Male electors in draft3,95,89,905Female electors in draft3,75,72,570Third-gender electors in draft3,087
These figures were reported following publication of the Maharashtra SIR draft electoral rolls. (The Indian Express)
What Should You Do If Your Name Is Missing?
If you are a Maharashtra voter, do not wait for the final electoral roll.
Step 1: Check the Draft Electoral Roll
The Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra, has activated a facility to search names in the SIR 2026 draft electoral roll using personal details. (Chief Election Officer Maharashtra)
You can also use the Election Commission's Citizen Service Portal, which provides SIR-related services. (Election Commission of India)
Check the Election Commission's Citizen Service Portal
Step 2: Check Your Details Carefully
Don't check only your own name.
If you live with family members, it is worth checking the names of:
- Parents
- Spouse
- Adult children
- Elderly family members
- Other eligible voters in the household
This is particularly important for people who have moved homes, elderly voters who may not have been available during enumeration, and people whose address or electoral records may contain discrepancies.
Step 3: File a Claim if You Are Eligible
If your name is missing from the draft electoral roll but you are an eligible voter, you can submit a claim during the prescribed claims-and-objections period.
For Maharashtra's current SIR schedule, the claims and objections window runs from 31 August 2026 to 30 September 2026. (eshala)
September 30 is therefore an important date for voters whose names are missing or whose electoral details require correction.
What About New Voters?
The process is also relevant to people who have become eligible to vote but are not currently registered.
The Election Commission's Citizen Service Portal provides Form 6 for new voter registration. (Election Commission of India)
The CEO Maharashtra website likewise lists:
- Form 6 — inclusion of a new elector
- Form 7 — objection/deletion-related applications
- Form 8 — correction or shifting of residence and other electoral-roll services (Chief Election Officer Maharashtra)
If you have recently turned 18 or otherwise become eligible for registration, check which application is applicable to your situation rather than assuming that your name will automatically appear.
What If You Have Moved Within Maharashtra?
Moving from one city or constituency to another can create problems if your electoral record has not been updated.
For example, someone who previously lived in Pune but now lives in Mumbai should not assume that their old electoral-roll entry automatically transfers to their new address.
The Election Commission provides Form 8 for shifting residence and correction of entries in the electoral roll. (Chief Election Officer Maharashtra)
Make sure your electoral record reflects your current ordinary residence.
Don't Rely Only on Your Voter ID Card
One of the most important things voters should remember is that having a physical Voter ID/EPIC card does not mean you should skip checking the electoral roll.
The practical question is:
Is your name present in the current electoral roll for your constituency?
Before an election, voters should verify their name and electoral details rather than relying solely on an old card.
The Election Commission provides voter-search and electoral-roll services through its official portals. (Chief Election Officer Maharashtra)
What Does "Absent, Shifted, Dead, Duplicate" Mean?
The Maharashtra CEO's SIR system also provides an ASDD list, referring to categories such as:
Absent, Shifted, Dead and Duplicate.
These categories are important because a missing name does not necessarily indicate the same underlying reason in every case.
For example, a person who has genuinely shifted residence is very different from a person who has been incorrectly recorded as deceased.
That is why voters should verify their individual record and use the appropriate correction or inclusion process instead of assuming that every omitted name has been removed for the same reason.
The Maharashtra CEO website specifically provides access to the ASDD information as part of its SIR services. (Chief Election Officer Maharashtra)
Mumbai, Pune and Thane Need Special Attention
The large cities are particularly important in the current exercise.
Reports based on the draft figures indicate significant reductions in Mumbai, Mumbai Suburban, Pune and Thane. The four densely populated areas accounted for a substantial share of the uncollectable Enumeration Forms during the exercise. (The Times of India)
This is especially relevant for people who:
- Frequently move between rented homes
- Have changed addresses
- Work in another city
- Live away from their registered address
- Have elderly relatives whose verification may have been difficult
- Have not updated their electoral records after relocation
If you fall into any of these categories, checking your name now is better than discovering the problem immediately before an election.
Is the 2 Crore Figure the Final Deletion?
No.
The current figure relates to the draft electoral roll.
The Election Commission's process provides a claims-and-objections period after publication of the draft. Eligible electors can use this period to seek inclusion or correction.
Therefore, the 2.06 crore figure should not be interpreted as the final number of voters who will be absent from Maharashtra's eventual electoral roll.
The final roll will reflect the outcome of the subsequent verification and claims process.
The Most Important Deadline
For Maharashtra voters, the immediate deadline to remember is:
30 September 2026
That is the end of the current claims-and-objections period for the draft SIR electoral roll. (eshala)
If your name is missing, take action during the claims period rather than waiting for the final publication.
Where Can You Get Help?
The Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra provides SIR-specific resources, including:
- Draft electoral roll
- ASDD list
- SIR-2002 search
- Enumeration Form instructions
- SIR FAQs
- AC-wise SIR help desks
- BLO information
- SIR instructions (Chief Election Officer Maharashtra)
For voter-related assistance, the official voter helpline is:
1950
The Election Commission's Citizen Service Portal also provides SIR services, including searching the last SIR, submitting documents against notices and voter-registration services. (Election Commission of India)
What Maharashtra Voters Should Do Now
A simple checklist:
☐ Search your name in the SIR 2026 draft roll
☐ Check your family members' names
☐ Verify your address and other electoral details
☐ If your name is missing, find out why
☐ File the appropriate claim/application before 30 September 2026
☐ Keep confirmation or acknowledgement of your submission
☐ Check the status again after the claims process
The Bottom Line
Maharashtra's SIR draft roll has created a significant voter-verification exercise, with 2.06 crore names not included in the draft — equivalent to 21.14% of the previous electoral roll. (The Indian Express)
But the key message for citizens is not simply to focus on the headline number.
Check your own name. Check your family's names. And if an eligible voter is missing, use the claims process before the deadline.
An electoral roll is not just a government database. It determines whether an eligible citizen can exercise their right to vote.
Be Informed. Be Heard.