Significant Voter List Updates in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat Ahead of Elections
Voter List Revisions in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat
In Tamil Nadu, approximately 97.3 lakh individuals have been removed from the draft voter lists during a special intensive revision of electoral rolls. Similarly, in Gujarat, 73.7 lakh names were also eliminated.
According to data from the chief electoral officer, out of the 97 lakh entries deleted in Tamil Nadu, 66.4 lakh had relocated, 26.9 lakh had passed away, and 3.9 lakh were registered in multiple locations.
The removals from the draft roll are provisional, allowing citizens to contest their exclusions. Residents in both states whose names have been removed can submit claims and objections until January 18.
The draft list in Tamil Nadu includes 2.6 crore men and 2.7 crore women, as reported by a local media outlet.
Chennai experienced the most significant decrease, with around 14.2 lakh voters removed, marking a drop of approximately 35% in the city.
In Gujarat, the draft list's total voter count decreased from 5 crore to 4.3 crore.
Of the 73.7 lakh entries deleted in Gujarat, 51.8 lakh had changed residences, 18 lakh had died, and 3.8 lakh were registered in multiple places, according to the chief electoral officer's data.
The enumeration period for revisions in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat concluded on December 14.
Tamil Nadu is anticipated to hold Assembly elections in the first half of 2026, while Gujarat is expected to follow at the end of 2027.
On Tuesday, the Election Commission released the draft electoral rolls for West Bengal, where over 58 lakh voters were removed from the lists.
In addition to Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and West Bengal, a special intensive revision of electoral rolls is currently taking place in nine other states and Union Territories.
In Bihar, where the revision was completed prior to the Assembly elections in November, around 47 lakh voters were excluded from the final electoral roll.
Concerns arose in Bihar regarding the potential removal of eligible voters from the rolls, leading several petitioners to approach the Supreme Court.