📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Tuian Times
Politics
Over Half of Delhi Voters Purged or Marked Doubtful, VIPs Exempted, Poor Pay Fees
✍️ The Reporters' Collective
🗓 21 Sep 2026, 08:12 AM
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The Reporters' Collective reports that more than 50% of Delhi’s voters have been either removed from the electoral roll or placed on the Election Commission’s doubtful list, while VIPs retain voting rights and the poorest are asked to pay fees.
A recent investigation by The Reporters' Collective reveals that over half of the registered voters in Delhi have been either purged from the electoral roll or placed on the Election Commission of India's doubtful list. The findings highlight a sweeping revision of voter records in the national capital ahead of upcoming elections.
According to the report, the purge and doubtful-listing affect more than 50% of the city’s electorate, creating concerns about disenfranchisement for a large segment of the population. The criteria used by the Election Commission to flag voters remain unclear, but the scale of the action is unprecedented for Delhi.
The same investigation notes a disparity in treatment: several high‑profile individuals, described as VIPs, have been allowed to retain their voting status despite the broader purge. In contrast, the poorest voters identified in the doubtful list are reportedly required to pay additional fees to confirm their eligibility.
The report does not provide official comments from the Election Commission, leaving questions about the transparency of the process and its impact on voter participation in the capital.
According to the report, the purge and doubtful-listing affect more than 50% of the city’s electorate, creating concerns about disenfranchisement for a large segment of the population. The criteria used by the Election Commission to flag voters remain unclear, but the scale of the action is unprecedented for Delhi.
The same investigation notes a disparity in treatment: several high‑profile individuals, described as VIPs, have been allowed to retain their voting status despite the broader purge. In contrast, the poorest voters identified in the doubtful list are reportedly required to pay additional fees to confirm their eligibility.
The report does not provide official comments from the Election Commission, leaving questions about the transparency of the process and its impact on voter participation in the capital.