Voter gap
Lucknow: With Uttar Pradesh heading towards assembly elections early 2027, Saturday will be the last practical opportunity for eligible citizens to submit Form 6 for inclusion in the draft electoral roll scheduled for publication on Nov 12. The urgency assumes significance as the state has nearly 2.7 crore fewer registered electors than its projected adult population for 2026. Importantly, Oct 24 is not the final deadline for voter registration ahead of the assembly elections. Rinwa clarified that youngsters attaining 18 years of age by Jan 1, 2027, would be eligible to submit Form 6 during this period, even if they have not completed 18 years on the date of application. Those born on or before Oct 1, 2008, are already eligible to apply under continuous updation. The CEO said claims and objections received during SSR would be disposed of by December 28, with the final electoral roll scheduled for publication on January 4, 2027. Voter registration has also become simpler following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), with the standard statutory Form 6 now being used without requiring applicants to establish links with the 2003 electoral rolls. Rinwa said Aadhaar is among the six documents accepted as proof of date of birth and seven accepted as proof of address under Form 6.
Because they are not yet 18, will have an opportunity during the scheduled claim and objection period from Nov 12 to Dec 11, citizens born between Oct 2, 2008, and Jan 1, 2009, who are currently unable to apply under the ongoing registration process (SSR). You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Lucknow | Silver Rate in Lucknow | Bank Holidays in Lucknow | Public Holidays in Lucknow | Lucknow AQI | Weather in Lucknow | Petrol Price in Lucknow | Diesel Price in Lucknow | CNG Price in Lucknow | LPG Price in Lucknow Stay updated with the latest Lucknow news. The provision is particularly relevant for economically weaker and marginalised citizens who may lack birth certificates, educational records or other documents. However, Aadhaar’s acceptance for electoral registration does not establish citizenship. UIDAI regional office Lucknow deputy director general Prashant Kumar Singh has clarified that Aadhaar primarily establishes identity through biometric verification and can also be issued to eligible foreign residents. For citizens already eligible to vote, Saturday’s camps offer the immediate opportunity to seek inclusion in the draft roll. Download the TOI App.
According to population projections prepared by the National Commission on Population under the Union ministry of health and family welfare, Uttar Pradesh’s population is estimated at 24.29 crore in 2026, including 16.17 crore people aged 18 years and above. However, electoral data as of Oct 7 shows only 13,46,77,027 registered voters, representing 83.30% of the projected adult population. This leaves a gap of 2.7 crore, or 16.7%, between the projected voting-age population and the registered electorate. The figures are based on the July 2020 report of the Technical Group on Population Projections for India and States, covering 2011 to 2036. However, the 2.70 crore difference should not automatically be interpreted as the number of eligible citizens excluded from electoral rolls. Against a projected adult female population of 7,84,09,000, only 6,12,95,498 women were registered as electors on Oct 7, leaving a gap of 1,71,13,502. Among men, the projected adult population stands at 8,32,76,000, compared with 7,33,77,447 registered male electors. The corresponding difference is 98,98,553. The elector-to-population ratio stands at 58.08% among men but only 52.60% among women, indicating a significantly larger gap between projected adult population and voter registration among women. The commission’s projections estimate 84,47,000 youngsters in the 18 to 19 age group in UP during 2026. Yet, only 19,61,585 electors in this age bracket were registered as of October 7. This leaves a difference of 64,85,415 between the projected population of 18 to 19-year-olds and registered electors in the same age group. In other words, the number of registered young electors represents just 23.22% of the projected population in this age bracket. Uttar Pradesh chief electoral officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa told TOI that eligible citizens submitting Form 6 by Oct 24 which is part of Special Summary Revision (SSR), would be considered for inclusion in the Nov 12 draft electoral roll, subject to scrutiny and completion of the prescribed registration process. Rinwa explained that electoral rolls would be frozen on Nov 2 to facilitate rationalisation of polling stations and redistribution of electors, with a ceiling of 1,200 voters per polling booth. Processing a Form 6 application normally requires eight to nine days, including a mandatory seven-day period during which application details are displayed publicly. Consequently, Oct 24 assumes importance as the practical cut-off for applications intended for the draft roll. The CEO said discussions were underway with the Election Commission of India regarding the handling of applications received between Oct 25 and Nov 11, which fall between the practical cut-off and commencement of the formally notified claims and objections period.
Migration, demographic changes and projection errors may also influence the difference,” said an official source. “Population projections are estimates, while voter registration depends on citizenship, ordinary residence and other statutory eligibility conditions. The gender-wise figures reveal an even wider disparity among women. An equally striking disparity emerges among first-time voters. The figures underline the importance of reaching young citizens entering the electorate ahead of the assembly elections.
A statewide special enrolment campaign will be organised at polling booths on Saturday, where booth-level officers (BLOs) will assist eligible citizens in submitting applications.