ECI Postpones Maharashtra Draft Electoral Roll Publication to August 31

MUMBAI — The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deferred the publication of Maharashtra's draft electoral roll by one week, shifting the date from August 24 to August 31. The postponement comes to allow election authorities time to complete the rationalisation of polling booths following the removal of untraceable electors during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

The enumeration phase of the revision concluded on Monday. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Wednesday, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Manohar Parkar explained that the schedule change followed a formal request from state election officials seeking additional time.

“The rescheduling by the ECI is as per our request demanding more time for rationalisation of polling booths,” Parkar said.

According to officials, the voter count in several polling booths fluctuated significantly after untraceable electors were struck off the registers. Booth rationalisation is required to maintain a balanced allocation of 1,000 to 1,200 registered voters per booth across the state.

“The rearrangement needs some time and hence the draft publication has been delayed by a week. The remaining programme remains the same,” Parkar said.

More than 20.70 million electors are expected to be deleted from the upcoming draft electoral roll that will be published on August 31.

Following the release of the draft roll, electors who have been excluded will have the opportunity to submit claims and objections between August 31 and September 30. The electoral machinery will then process and resolve these objections by issuing notices over a two-month period until October 29.

The final electoral roll for Maharashtra is scheduled to be officially published on November 11.