NEW DELHI, November 6, 2026: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed a fresh revision of electoral rolls in four states and two Union Territories, initiating the annual Special Summary Revision (SSR) process for the 2026–27 cycle.
The exercise will cover Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Odisha, Sikkim, Chandigarh, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
According to the schedule communicated by the Commission to the respective Chief Electoral Officers through a letter dated November 4, the integrated draft electoral rolls will be published on November 30, 2026. The final voter lists are scheduled for publication on January 21, 2027.
The revision is intended to ensure that eligible citizens are included in electoral rolls, particularly those who have recently reached or are approaching the qualifying age for voter registration.
January 1, 2027, has been designated as the qualifying date for the primary revision exercise. The Commission will also accept advance applications from individuals who will become eligible on April 1, July 1 and October 1, 2027.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
Electoral rolls form the foundation of India's democratic process. Missing names, incorrect personal details or wrongful deletions can prevent eligible citizens from participating in elections. The latest revision is important for first-time voters who will become eligible in 2027, as well as existing electors who need to correct their registration details. The additional verification safeguards are also significant because they introduce greater scrutiny into applications seeking the removal of names. For political parties, the revision provides another opportunity to monitor electoral-roll changes and participate through their designated Booth Level Agents.
Six States and Union Territories Included
The newly announced exercise covers:
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Mizoram
- Odisha
- Sikkim
- Chandigarh
- Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
These regions have been included in the SSR exercise following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision process.
The latest announcement adds six more jurisdictions to the broader electoral-roll revision programme already announced by the Commission for other parts of the country.
Important Dates for Voters
The Commission has established a schedule covering polling station rationalisation, publication of draft rolls, submission of objections and finalisation of the electoral lists.
Polling station rationalisation is scheduled to be completed by November 20, 2026. The integrated draft electoral rolls will be released on November 30.
Citizens will be able to submit claims and objections between November 30 and December 30, 2026. The authorities are expected to complete the disposal of these claims and objections by January 16, 2027.
The final electoral rolls will be published on January 21, 2027.
The schedule provides voters with an opportunity to check their registration details and raise concerns if their names are missing or incorrect.
Election Commission Introduces Safeguards Against Wrongful Deletions
An important aspect of the latest revision is the set of safeguards intended to prevent eligible voters from being removed from electoral rolls without proper verification.
The Commission has prescribed limits on applications seeking deletion of names. An individual will not be permitted to submit more than 10 Form 7 applications during the claims-and-objections period.
Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by political parties will also be subject to submission limits. They can submit up to 10 forms per day to Booth Level Officers. If an agent submits more than 30 forms during the entire period, the Electoral Registration Officer or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer will be required to personally cross-verify the applications.
Additional verification requirements will apply when proposed deletions exceed two per cent of the total electors at a polling station or when the same objector files objections in more than five cases.
These measures are intended to strengthen accountability and reduce the possibility of mass or questionable deletions.
Aadhaar Details Will Remain Voluntary
The Commission has clarified that furnishing Aadhaar details in Forms 6 and 8 will remain voluntary.
An application for inclusion in the electoral roll cannot be rejected solely because an applicant does not provide an Aadhaar number. Similarly, an existing voter entry cannot be deleted only because the elector has not furnished Aadhaar details.
The clarification is significant for voters who may not have access to Aadhaar information or are unable to submit it during the registration process.
Polling Station Arrangements Also Under Review
The revision will also involve rationalisation of polling stations to improve voter access.
The Commission has instructed electoral authorities to ensure that a polling station generally does not have more than 1,200 electors without prior approval.
It has also directed that voters should not ordinarily be required to travel more than two kilometres to reach their polling station.
These arrangements are intended to improve accessibility, particularly for elderly citizens, persons with disabilities and voters living in remote areas.
The Commission has further asked state and Union Territory administrations to provide adequate manpower and resources for the smooth implementation of the exercise.
