The Election Commission on Monday released Tamil Nadu’s final electoral roll following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), removing 97,37,831 names and bringing the state’s total electorate down to 5.43 crore. Officials said many deletions were due to deaths and duplicate or ineligible entries. The exercise has triggered political scrutiny, though authorities insist due process was followed and affected voters have been given avenues to raise objections or reapply within a stipulated timeframe.

Reapplication Window Open

Tamil Nadu’s Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik said 97,37,831 names were struck off after the SIR exercise. Of the 66 lakh names removed for various reasons, eligible voters will be allowed to submit fresh applications through Form 6 to restore their names to the roll.

Election authorities clarified that a significant portion of deletions involved deceased voters. In addition, notices were issued to 12,43,363 individuals. Those whose entries contained discrepancies have been directed to submit supporting documents and a self-declaration certificate within the prescribed deadline to retain their names on the electoral list.

Officials stressed that the revision aimed to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the electoral database rather than exclude legitimate voters.

Supreme Court Compliance, 10-Day Objection Window

The Commission also said it complied with a January 30 directive issued in line with a Supreme Court order. The directive made it mandatory to publicly disclose the reasons for deletion in cases involving controversy or inconsistent information. Accordingly, detailed lists have been displayed at gram panchayat offices, public locations, block and sub-divisional offices, and ward offices in urban areas.

Under the SIR process, affected individuals have been granted a 10-day window to file objections or provide clarifications.

Meanwhile, during the second phase of the SIR, nearly 8 per cent of voters across nine states and Union Territories were removed from electoral rolls. In Puducherry, the final electoral roll published on 14 February recorded a total of 9,44,211 registered voters.

The Commission maintains that the revision process is a routine but rigorous exercise aimed at maintaining transparency and electoral credibility ahead of upcoming polls.