Jayapal raises concern over India's draft voter-roll deletions

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat from Washington State, expressed concern on October 14, 2026, over reports of voter-name removals from India's draft electoral rolls. In a post on X, she described the Indian government's actions as purging 130 million people from the rolls.

Jayapal also voiced support for people taking part in nonviolent protests. She said Indian and American people deserve free and fair elections and described protecting democracies everywhere as essential work. Her comments framed the removals as a voting-rights concern.

Statistics shared by the Election Commission of India put deletions from draft rolls at around 7.2 crore names during the first two phases of the process in 13 states and union territories. In the ongoing third phase, with draft lists published for 18 states and union territories, the figure stood at 6.16 crore.

The commission said genuine voters whose names were inadvertently left out could seek inclusion through the claims and objections process and subsequently through Form 6. Its statement describes a route for seeking inclusion after an omission.