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India voter roll deletions: Pramila Jayapal cites reports and backs non-violent protests
US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal voiced concern over reports that 130 million names were removed from India’s draft electoral rolls. She said she supports non-violent protests against what she described as anti-democratic efforts, and compared the situation to actions in the US that she says undermine voting rights. The Election Commission of India reported large-scale deletions in draft rolls.
US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who is of Indian origin, raised concern on Wednesday. Jayapal referred to reports about 13 crore voter names being removed from India’s draft rolls. Jayapal posted the remarks on X. The post marked the first such comments by a US lawmaker on this issue.
/img/2026/10/pramila-jayapal-raises-concerns-india-voter-roll-deletions-report-1792006215231-600x338.jpg "Jayapal comments on India voter rolls")
"I am deeply concerned about the actions of the Indian government to purge 130 million people from the voting rolls,\" Jayapal said in the post. Jayapal also linked the reports to wider worries about voting rights. Jayapal said people in India deserve free and fair elections.
Pramila Jayapal statement on voter names removed from draft electoral rolls
Jayapal said the situation in India appeared similar to steps taken in the US. Jayapal compared it to what the Trump Administration is doing, Jayapal said. Jayapal said such actions can weaken voting rights in a democracy. Jayapal also said protecting democracies everywhere is essential work.
Jayapal said support extended to peaceful public action in India. \"Non-violent resistance movements are essential in these moments, and I stand with the Indian people who are engaging in non-violent protests to counter anti-democratic efforts in India,\" Jayapal said. Jayapal described the protests as a response to anti-democratic efforts.
Election Commission of India data on voter names removed from draft electoral rolls
Election Commission of India statistics outlined large deletions during the SIR exercise. The Commission said about 7.2 crore names were deleted in phases one and two. Those phases covered SIR work in 13 states and union territories. The figures were shared as part of updates on draft electoral rolls.
The Commission also reported deletions during the ongoing third phase. Draft lists for 18 States and Union Territories have been published in this phase. The number of deleted voters in the third phase stood at 6.16 crore. Together, the figures were cited in reports linked to the 13 crore total.
The Election Commission of India said genuine voters could still be added back if excluded. The Commission said a voter could use the claims and objections process first. The Commission added that inclusion could later be sought through Form 6. The process was described as a remedy for inadvertent omissions from the SIR exercise.
With inputs from PTI
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