New Delhi [India]: The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Delhi has announced the publication of the final electoral roll for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. As of January 6, 2025, a total of 1,55,24,858 voters are registered in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, reflecting a net increase of 1.09% compared to the previous roll.
During the claims and objections period from October 29 to November 28, 2024, 1,35,089 new registrations were recorded, 69,177 names were deleted, and 83,825 corrections were made. The CEO stated, “All pending claims and objections as of October 29, 2024, along with those received up to December 15, 2024, were resolved by December 24, 2024. This process resulted in the addition of 3,08,942 voters and the deletion of 1,41,613, yielding a net increase of 1,67,329 voters.”
However, the CEO reported an unexpected surge in voter registrations since December 16, 2024, with over 5.1 lakh Form-6 applications submitted after the Special Summary Revision (SSR) 2025 deadline. “This significant spike, occurring more than 20 days after the claims and objections period, is under scrutiny. Directions have been issued to Election Registration Officers (EROs) to strictly verify each application as per Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines,” the CEO added. Measures such as 100% field verification and personal hearings for doubtful cases have been implemented.
Eight First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed against 24 individuals for submitting fraudulent documents to obtain voter IDs. The surge in applications is reportedly linked to the recently announced ‘Mahila Samman’ Scheme by the ruling party, which ties benefits under the scheme to voter ID possession. Similar patterns were observed during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when political parties promised financial benefits under “guarantee cards” to women voters.
Draft electoral rolls were published on October 29, 2024, and displayed at designated locations and the CEO Delhi website. Copies were shared with six recognized political parties. Special camps were held on November 9-10 and November 23-24, 2024, to facilitate public access and the submission of claims and objections. Measures like field verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and cross-checks at ERO/AERO levels ensured the accuracy of the rolls.
The final roll, released on January 6, 2025, is available online and at polling stations. Recognized political parties have received copies, and continuous updates will be allowed in line with ECI guidelines, enabling further claims and objections.