Overview Election officials in Kerala have received 2.18 lakh applications for inclusion of names in the electoral roll following the publication of the draft roll on December 23 by the Election Commission of India (ECI) . This is part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) . The process aims to update and refine the electoral roll, ensuring accuracy and inclusivity. This is a crucial aspect of maintaining the integrity of the electoral process, directly relevant to GS2: Polity and Governance . Key Application Statistics Form 6: 1,77,718 applications (new voters) Form 6A: 40,383 applications (overseas electors) Form 7: 932 applications (objections/deletions) Previous Application Data Prior to the draft roll publication, there were 3,72,383 Form 6 applications and 32,925 Form 6A applications already filed. This indicates a continuous effort to update the electoral roll throughout the year. 'No Mapping' Electors Hearings are actively being conducted for the 19.32 lakh 'no mapping' electors. These are voters who could not be linked to the 2002 SIR list. Resolving this issue is vital for ensuring that all eligible voters are included in the electoral roll. Revised Schedule Claims and Objections Period: Until January 22 Notice Phase (Hearings and Verification): Ends on February 14 Final List Publication: February 21 Draft Electoral Roll Details The draft electoral roll published on December 23 included a little over 2.54 crore voters. This comprised: Female Voters: 1.3 crore Male Voters: 1.23 crore Transgender Voters: 280 Names Removed and the ASD List A total of 24.08 lakh names were removed and included in the Absent, Shifted, Dead (ASD) list. This action drew criticism from political parties. The breakdown of the ASD list is as follows: Untraceable/Absent: 6.45 lakh Permanently Shifted: 8.16 lakh Others: 1.6 lakh (includes those who declined to accept/return enumeration forms) Dead Voters: 6.49 lakh Duplicated Names: 1.36 lakh UPSC Relevance This news is relevant to GS2: Polity and Governance , specifically concerning the electoral process and the role of the Election Commission of India . The accuracy and inclusivity of the electoral roll are fundamental to free and fair elections. The data on new registrations, removals, and the 'no mapping' electors provides insights into the challenges and efforts involved in maintaining an updated voter list.