Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh India’s largest and politically most significant state offers an insightful case study into the recently concluded Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026 of electoral rolls.
As per official data, Lucknow had a total of 3,994,535 electors in December 2025, prior to the publication of the draft electoral list. The final list released today records a deletion of 924,185 electors, indicating a substantial revision in the voter database.
Constituency-wise Changes
Constituency | Pre-SIR | Post-SIR | Deletion |
East | 462,625 | 319,147 | 143,478 |
West | 470,362 | 382,895 | 87,476 |
Central | 372,000 | 264,561 | 107,439 |
| Cantonment | 365,590 | 264,561 | 125,262 |
| Malihabad | 368,641 | 330,530 | 38,711 |
North | 479,019 | 344,309 | 134,716 |
Sarojini nagar | 602,359 | 460,037 | 142,122 |
Mohanlalgnj | 369,016 | 318,771 | 40,245 |
Bakshi Talab | 495,173 | 419,472 | 75,651 |
Understanding the Data Integrity
It is important to underline that the Election Commission of India does not maintain voter data based on religion or caste, nor does it employ any such categorisation in the SIR 2026 exercise.
Technically, the scope for manipulation in this dataset is minimal. The electoral rolls are fully digitised and systematically structured, with:
• Each Assembly Constituency divided into wards
• Each ward subdivided into part numbers
• Every voter assigned a unique serial number and EPIC (Elector’s Photo Identity Card) number
This layered structure ensures that the figures are not estimations, but precise counts accounting for every individual elector. The same database architecture scales upward to parliamentary constituencies and national-level electoral mapping.
A Striking Pattern: Urban vs Rural Deletions
A closer analysis of the constituency-wise data reveals a noteworthy trend:
• Higher deletions in urban constituencies, such as Lucknow East Lucknow North and Cantonment
• Lower deletions in semi-urban and rural belts, including Malihabad and Mohanlalganj
This suggests an inverse relationship between urbanisation and voter retention. Areas known for higher mobility, migration and demographic fluidity typically urban and elite zones have experienced greater deletions.
Interestingly, Lucknow East, widely perceived as a stronghold of Bharatiya Janata Party, records the highest deletion figures, while older city areas like West and Central Lucknow, along with rural segments, show comparatively moderate declines.
Addressing Concerns and Grey Areas
No large-scale administrative exercise is entirely free from concerns. There have been isolated complaints for instance, allegations of eligible voters being removed via Form 7 submissions, sometimes incorrectly marked as deceased.
Additionally, challenges may have arisen at the Booth Level Officer (BLO) stage, particularly in data collection and uploading.
However, it is equally important to note that the Election Commission appears to have taken cognisance of genuine grievances, addressing them through established mechanisms.
Conclusion: A Largely Credible Exercise
Despite minor grey areas, the SIR 2026 exercise in Uttar Pradesh appears to have been conducted professionally, transparently and impartially on the whole.
The leadership of Navdeep Rinwa, Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh, along with his team, deserves acknowledgment for managing a complex and sensitive process at such a large scale.
For an electorate as vast and diverse as that of Uttar Pradesh, maintaining the integrity of the electoral roll is both a logistical challenge and a democratic imperative. The Lucknow case study, while raising important questions, ultimately reinforces confidence in the robustness of the constitutional-autonomous institution.
