Tamil Nadu has officially released its final electoral roll after conducting a Special Intensive Revision as mandated by the Election Commission of India and the Supreme Court. This revision, crucial for the upcoming Assembly elections, has resulted in significant changes to the state’s voter database, including deletions and corrections. District Election Officers, also District Collectors, have started sharing district-wise figures throughout Tamil Nadu.
The Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu, Archana Patnaik, is set to hold a press conference in Chennai to present the revised electorate data and discuss the key outcomes of the revision process. A total of 97,37,831 names were removed from the draft electoral roll following scrutiny of Special Summary Correction Enumeration Forms. The current count of electors in Tamil Nadu now stands at 5.43 crore after these deletions.
Notably, a considerable number of deletions were due to deceased voters. Out of the 6.6 million names removed for various reasons, eligible individuals were given the chance to reapply through Form 6. This provision allowed qualified voters, including new eligible electors, to request inclusion in the updated list. Additionally, notices were sent to 12,43,363 individuals with incomplete or conflicting entries, requiring them to provide necessary documents and self-declarations within a specified timeframe to maintain their listing.
The revision process was conducted in compliance with a January 30 directive from the Election Commission, following a Supreme Court order. This directive required names deleted due to conflicting information to be publicly displayed, along with reasons for removal. The lists were exhibited at various offices and public places, allowing affected individuals a 10-day period to raise objections or provide clarifications.
During the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision, nearly 8% of voters were removed across nine states and union territories. Puducherry’s final electoral roll, released on February 14, shows a total electorate of 9,44,211. The updated electoral roll is expected to improve transparency, accuracy, and credibility in Tamil Nadu’s electoral procedures as the state readies for the upcoming elections.
