Malakpet

Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Hyderabad is getting a slow response from voters. Most people who got notices are not showing up for their hearings, and election officials are getting worried as the October 7 deadline comes closer.

Booth Level Officers at Malakpet say voters in no-mapping and anomaly categories need to bring three to four types of supporting documents during verification. This is tough for many families, especially where there is a big age gap between generations or among siblings. Older records were written by hand, but the current system uses digital data, which makes matching details harder.

How verification works

The Assistant Electoral Registration Officer of Charminar Assembly Constituency confirmed that anomaly cases will be checked and approved by AEROs or EROs. In no-mapping cases, the software automatically sends submitted documents to District Election Officer for final verification.

Hyderabad DEO RV Karnan urged voters who received notices to not ignore them. He said Election Commission has set 12 different document requirements depending on the elector's date of birth, including documents about parents where needed. Attending hearings with the right papers is the only way to keep your name in the electoral rolls.

Concerns have come up about the new draft electoral rolls in Hyderabad. Research from Sabar Institute shows that the number of voters removed from the lists across all 15 Assembly constituencies is higher than the winning margins from the 2023 elections.

Details on voter deletions

Data shows that 19.4 lakh names were deleted. This number is equal to 89 per cent of the total votes cast in the city last year. In areas like Malakpet and Yakutpura, the number of deletions was even higher than the total votes cast in the previous election. The report says that 69.3 per cent of these names were removed because the voters moved away, while 17.5 per cent were marked as untraceable.

These findings come after Telangana released its draft electoral rolls on 17 August. The report notes that Muslim voters made up 40.7 per cent of the total deletions. However, it is not yet clear if this group faced higher removal rates compared to their total population share.

People in Telangana are worried while Election Commission works on a voter list update. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy pointed out big problems, saying over one-third of the state population is being checked under ASDD labels. He asked the Chief Election Commissioner to give more time so no real voter misses out.

Reports from places like Musheerabad, Yakutpura, and Malakpet show high tension. Just in Musheerabad, 1.4 lakh votes are being checked. Citizens in Secunderabad find it hard to reach Booth Level Officers. They wait a long time and get asked for old documents, even when they show valid Aadhaar and voter IDs.

Verification process challenges

Election officials say they are handling many notices for errors and missing voter data. They say hearings are happening and they are taking available documents to protect the rights of real voters.

Questions have come up about the voter deletion list in Hyderabad. Figures across 15 Assembly constituencies show a pattern that has caught the attention of observers. Data comparing votes cast in the 2023 Assembly election with the current draft deletion list shows that nearly 19.4 lakh names are marked for possible removal.

Areas needing attention

In constituencies like Yakutpura and Malakpet, the number of names on the draft deletion list is higher than the total votes cast during the 2023 election. Local leaders are looking into this closely.

Important note: this draft list is not final. Election Commission rules allow for claims and objections. Booth Level Officers are currently doing home visits to check the details. Voters should stay alert and check their status during this process to make sure their names are not removed by mistake.

Nearly 1 lakh voters in Hyderabad missed required hearings for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Officials sent notices to over 4 lakh people, but very few have shown up. If you got a notice, attend the hearing to keep your name on the final list.

Many voters are confused by notices sent to different addresses or are ignoring them because of minor spelling errors in surnames. You need to attend at least one hearing to confirm your details. If you do not respond by the October 15 deadline, your name might be removed from the final voter list.

Action required for voter records

Residents in Malakpet, Amberpet, or Sanathnagar should make sure their records are updated. Officials are currently processing a list of over 12 lakh notices. Check your status and attend your scheduled hearing to keep your voting rights.

Updates to electoral rolls in Telangana led to removing 73 lakh names. This happened during a Special Intensive Revision process. Officials moved these entries into categories for people who are absent, shifted, duplicated, or deceased.

Hyderabad district saw the biggest impact with over 19 lakh deletions. In the city, Malakpet and Musheerabad constituencies had the largest drops in voter counts. Ranga Reddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri also reported big decreases in their lists.

Actions to take if your name is missing

If you find your name is gone, you can still take action. Wait for the upcoming period for claims and objections. Submit Form 6 to get your name back on the voter list. This is an easy process to make sure your right to vote stays protected.