When the population of a country increases, there should ordinarily be a corresponding increase in the number of voters. Births continue to outnumber deaths, and India has a large and growing population of young people.

These demographic trends should be reflected in its electoral rolls. Yet, after the third phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), nearly six crore names have been deleted from the rolls in 16 states and three union territories. Of the 36.08 crore names initially on the rolls in these regions, 17.04 per cent have been deleted.

Delhi has recorded the highest percentage of deletions—32.78 per cent—while Maharashtra has the highest absolute number, with 2.06 crore names removed. Clean electoral rolls are........

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