In a major pre-election development, the State Election Commission has identified over 1.64 lakh duplicate voter entries in Kaushambi district through an advanced artificial intelligence (AI)-based audit, triggering a large-scale verification drive ahead of the upcoming three-tier panchayat elections.

Officials said the AI system flagged multiple instances where individuals appeared two or even three times in the same electoral roll. The detailed list of suspected duplicate entries has been sent to all respective tehsils for further verification. Kaushambi currently has 10,46,695 registered voters on record.

District Magistrate Dr. Amit Pal Sharma confirmed that a comprehensive verification process has already begun. “Sub-Divisional Magistrates have been directed to initiate door-to-door verification through Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Once the verification is complete, only the genuine address of residence will remain on record, and all duplicate entries will be removed,” he said.