The first elections in Gujarat following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) descended into chaos, confusion and mounting frustration on Sunday, as thousands of voters across Ahmedabad found their names missing from electoral rolls or abruptly shifted to unfamiliar polling booths.

From Vastrapur and SG Highway to Gujarat College, Law Garden, Ranip, Bopal and Hathijan, reports of missing names flooded in through the day. Under a punishing 45°C sun, voters were seen trudging from one booth to another, only to be turned away repeatedly, often with little clarity on where they were supposed to go.

What unfolded on the ground stood in stark contrast to official assurances. Across wards, a common refrain echoed: "What was the point of the SIR if names still can't be found?"

A polling booth official admitted the scale of the problem, saying nearly 30 per cent of voters who arrived could not locate their names. "We were helpless and asked them to check other booths," the official said, as exasperated voters moved in circles, pushed to the brink.

The situation was further aggravated by last-minute ward reshuffling carried out with minimal public communication. Residential societies including Vraj Villa, Uganda, Rishabh Prit, Maruti Row House, Chandramukhi, Gokul Row House and RMS Enclave were shifted between Bodakdev and Thaltej wards, leaving residents unaware of the changes until they turned up to vote. Even in the assembly constituency of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, confusion gripped voters in both Thaltej and Bodakdev.

In Shayona Darshan Society in Gota, the disruption was near total. Out of 150 eligible voters, only four managed to cast their vote, with the rest finding their names missing. The episode raised uncomfortable questions not only about the Election Commission's processes but also about booth-level management.

At Malabar County 2 near Vaishnodevi, 56 residents discovered their names were missing from the printed rolls at the Chharodi Madhyamik Shala polling booth, despite being present on the updated list on the Election Commission of India website. "I understand the frustration," a booth officer said. "But under the law, we can only allow those whose names are on the roll provided to us."

A similar story played out at Hillora Residency near Vastrapur Lake, where five families were unable to vote after their names failed to appear on the lists.

Adding to the confusion, voters alleged that political parties failed to distribute voter slips in several areas this time.

With no guidance and little on-ground support, many were left to navigate the system alone. "Booths were changed without informing us. No slips were distributed. We had to roam in this heat just to locate our names," said a voter.