Laddli Khatun pulled one document after another from a yellow bag, desperately hoping one would be enough to keep her name on India’s electoral rolls.
As the world’s largest democracy overhauls its voter lists, millions like Khatun are scrambling to re-establish their credentials, despite having voted before. Critics and opposition parties say the exercise risks mass disenfranchisement, and those removed fear wider citizenship repercussions.
More than 133 million names – including 28 million listed as dead – have been cut from rolls, according to figures reported by Indian media and cited by opposition parties in court filings.
Protests have rocked New Delhi, with demonstrators demanding the chief election commissioner’s resignation, alleging the overhaul is designed to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Election Commission of India, a constitutional body, denies wrongdoing and says the revision complies with the law.