Assam's Draft Electoral Roll Published Ahead of 2026 Elections
Draft Electoral Roll Released
Guwahati, Dec 30: The draft electoral roll for Assam has been officially released following the Special Revision (SR) process on December 27. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has called on residents to submit any claims or objections by January 22 to ensure their names are accurately included for the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections.
Transparent Process Introduced
During a press briefing at Janata Bhawan, CEO Anurag Goel emphasized that this year's process is designed to be exceptionally transparent, featuring public readings of the draft voter list at the Gram Sabha level.
This initiative marks the first time such an exercise will be conducted in Assam. Goel cautioned that merely submitting a form to the Booth Level Officer (BLO) does not guarantee inclusion; the draft roll must undergo public verification. Any discrepancies must be addressed during the claims and objections period.
Public Meetings Scheduled
In accordance with the guidelines from the Election Commission and the Electoral Roll Manual, the draft roll will be read aloud at Gram Sabha meetings attended by local residents and leaders. These gatherings are set for January 3, 4, 10, and 11, with specific dates to be confirmed by the District Commissioners.
This approach allows for immediate identification of any omissions or duplications, enabling prompt corrective measures. This level of public oversight is a first for Assam.
Claims and Objections Timeline
The window for claims and objections will remain open until January 22, 2026. No forms will be accepted from January 23 to February 10, during which the final electoral roll will be published.
If any issues arise post-publication, voters can approach the District Commissioner by February 15, provided they are from the same constituency. Appeals against the DC’s decisions can be made to the CEO, whose ruling will be final, with any further disputes directed to the courts.
Voter Statistics
Elections are anticipated to be announced by late February or early March, with preparations progressing smoothly, according to the CEO.
The draft roll lists a total of 2,52,01,624 voters, reflecting a 1.35% increase from the last final roll published on January 6, 2025. This includes 1,25,72,583 males, 1,26,28,662 females, and 379 individuals from the third gender, resulting in a gender ratio of 1,004 females for every 1,000 males.
Polling Stations and Young Voters
Assam now has 31,486 polling stations, with 1,830 newly established. The constituency with the highest number of electors is Dalgaon (Constituency 51) with 3,01,326 voters, while Dhemaji (Datmat) has the fewest polling stations at 126, and Mankachar boasts the most with 402.
The draft roll includes 2,45,000 young voters aged 18–19, although Booth Level Officers have identified over six lakh eligible youth who have yet to submit their forms.
Additional Voter Information
There are 1,36,546 senior citizens aged 85 and above, and 2,02,433 voters with disabilities. The count of service and postal electors stands at 6,03,314.
From January 6 to December 25, 2025, during ongoing updates, 7,86,841 new voters were added, while 4,47,196 names were removed, resulting in a net increase of over 3.3 lakh voters.
House-to-house verification conducted by over 60,000 BLOs identified 4,78,992 deceased voters and 5,23,680 who have moved, although their names will remain on the draft roll until the objections period concludes.
Final Steps for Voter Registration
Additionally, 53,619 duplicate entries have been flagged for correction. Voters residing away from their home due to work can apply for inclusion using Form 6, while corrections can be made via Form 8. The Election Commission urges all citizens to complete their applications by January 22.
This initiative aims to create an accurate, inclusive, and error-free electoral roll, highlighting the importance of public participation.
Oversight by Election Commission
The Special Revision is being conducted under the supervision of the Election Commission of India, with the Assam CEO’s office overseeing the implementation throughout the state.