India, Jan. 7 -- Nearly 6.5 crore elector names have been removed from the draft electoral rolls of nine states and three Union territories published over the past few days as part of Phase 2 of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) being carried out by the Election Commission of India.

Before Phase 2 of the SIR began on October 27, the 12 states and Union territories together had 50.90 crore registered voters. After the publication of the draft rolls, the electorate count dropped sharply to 44.40 crore.

Election Commission officials said the deleted names have been placed under the 'ASD' category-absent, shifted, and dead or duplicate. Officials earlier noted that the collection of enumeration forms during the revision exercise was sign...