Telangana’s voter list is poised for major changes, with preliminary estimates from officials indicating that the state’s overall voter count could shrink by roughly 60 lakh once the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process is complete — a projection that has sparked considerable discussion. Officials have reportedly found that nearly 40 lakh voters are not available at the addresses recorded in the voter list, while another 5 lakh entries pertain to deceased individuals or duplicate registrations. Officials also estimate, on a preliminary basis, that around 15 lakh eligible voters — both within Telangana and in other states — are showing a preference for registering to vote in their native states instead. However, the full picture will only become clear once the SIR process is complete and the final voter list is released. With the deadline for submitting enumeration forms set for August 10, officials have accelerated the SIR process, placing special focus on Greater Hyderabad, Medchal, and Ranga Reddy districts, where the survey has been progressing slowly.
The inability to locate voters at their registered addresses has emerged as a major concern in the statewide SIR exercise. Officials have preliminarily identified nearly 40 lakh voters who are not available at the addresses listed in their voter ID records — many of whom appear to have relocated to other areas for employment or business, or moved to neighbouring states. Officials are using technology to weed out earlier anomalies, such as individuals holding voting rights in two or three constituencies simultaneously, or being registered to vote both in their native village and in Hyderabad. Names of deceased voters are also being removed. Officials estimate that deceased and duplicate voters together account for roughly 5 lakh entries.
“Settlers” From Andhra Pradesh Opting to Retain Voting Rights in Native State
It has emerged that migrants — often referred to as “settlers” — who moved decades ago from the Andhra Pradesh region to Hyderabad and other districts of Telangana in search of employment and jobs, and who have since settled here permanently, are now increasingly choosing to register their votes in their native state instead. Sources indicate that, in view of the SIR process’s rules, upcoming political alignments, and continued ties to their native towns, a majority of such settlers are opting to retain their voting rights in Andhra Pradesh. As a result, many of them are reportedly not collecting enumeration forms in Telangana. Election officials indicate that this trend could reduce the number of Telangana voters with Andhra Pradesh origins by nearly 15 lakh.
A sharp decline in settler votes is reportedly being observed particularly in areas around Hyderabad. The total number of voters across rural and urban parts of Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, and Medchal districts stands at approximately 1.14 crore, of which nearly 90 lakh fall within the limits of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) alone. Internal surveys conducted by political parties suggest that roughly 15 to 20 percent of this total voter base traces its origins to Andhra Pradesh, with their numbers reportedly highest in the Kukatpally, Serilingampally, Kuthbullapur, and LB Nagar constituencies.
Digitization Nearly 80% Complete Statewide, but Urban Districts Lag
While the digitization process has been completed to the extent of nearly 80 percent statewide, progress has been comparatively slow in Hyderabad, Medchal-Malkajgiri, and Ranga Reddy districts. Key factors behind the slower pace include the sheer volume of voters in these areas, restrictions limiting officials’ access to high-rise apartments and gated communities, and frequent changes of address among residents.
Under the SIR process, however, the deadline for completing and submitting enumeration forms is limited to August 10. Booth-level officers and booth-level agents of political parties are currently visiting voters’ homes to verify details, and election officials have urged those who have not yet submitted their applications to do so immediately. As per the revised schedule, the Election Commission is set to release the draft voter list on August 17. Officials have clarified that the currently circulating figure of 60 lakh deletions is only a preliminary estimate, and that final numbers will become clear only once the review of pending applications is complete.