More than 97 lakh voters have been removed from Tamil Nadu’s electoral rolls following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, according to data released by the Election Commission on Friday.
Before the revision, the state had 6.41 crore registered voters. After the exercise, the number has been reduced to 5.43 crore voters, who will be eligible to cast their ballots in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
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Election Commission figures show that nearly 27 lakh names were deleted after being identified as deceased, while about 66 lakh voters were removed for having migrated out of the state. In addition, around 3.4 lakh entries were found to be duplicate registrations and were subsequently struck off the rolls.
The enumeration phase of the SIR, a nationwide voter roll verification exercise mandated by the Election Commission, concluded on December 16. Similar revisions are currently underway in other poll-bound states, including West Bengal.
The Election Commission has opened a claims and objections window until January 18, allowing voters whose names were removed to seek corrections or reinstatement. The poll body, which has faced legal scrutiny over the SIR process—particularly after its initial implementation in Bihar—has reiterated that no eligible voter will be wrongfully excluded from the electoral rolls.
The revised voter list is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring a more accurate and transparent electoral process ahead of the state elections.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
