In the GB Road district of Old Delhi, an area known for its red-light district, approximately 2,800 sex workers are struggling to participate in the democratic process. Reports indicate that many of these individuals are being removed from or are unable to access electoral rolls, effectively stripping them of their right to vote. The area, which functions as a commercial hub by day and a red-light district by night, consists of dilapidated buildings where sex workers live and operate out of upper-floor brothels.

According to accounts from the region, the process of voter registration is hindered by a combination of bureaucratic requirements and social marginalization. Because many sex workers lack traditional proof of residence or are hesitant to disclose their profession on official government documents, they often fail to meet the standard criteria for voter identification. The Guardian reports that these women are being 'struck off' the rolls, suggesting a systemic exclusion that prevents them from having a voice in local or national elections.

While the article highlights the physical environment of the district—noting the narrow stairways and unmarked doors that characterize the living conditions—the primary focus remains on the political disenfranchisement of the residents. There is currently no official response from the Election Commission of India regarding these specific allegations of mass removal from the electoral rolls, nor is there a counter-perspective provided by local authorities explaining the registration criteria as applied to this specific demographic. The situation underscores a broader tension between the legal rights of marginalized workers and the administrative systems designed to verify residency and identity in a densely populated urban environment.