In Shorts
• Over 97 lakh names removed from Tamil Nadu’s draft electoral roll.
• Draft list now stands at about 5.43 crore voters after SIR cleanup.
• Window for claims and objections open until mid-January 2026.
In a significant electoral update, Tamil Nadu’s draft voter list has been slimmed down dramatically after the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Officials confirmed that a total of 97,37,832 names were removed from the state’s earlier register of 6,41,14,587 electors. With this reduction, the draft electoral roll now lists approximately 5,43,76,755 voters statewide.
The large-scale deletions follow an extensive door-to-door verification effort intended to ensure the accuracy of voter records ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Election authorities say the purge was necessary to eliminate entries linked to deceased individuals, duplicate registrations, and voters who have moved permanently out of the state.
Official breakdowns of the data show that a substantial share of the removed entries were attributed to migration and shifts in residence, alongside confirmed deaths and record duplications. Urban centers, particularly Chennai, experienced especially high rates of deletions. In Chennai alone, more than 14 lakh entries were dropped, reducing the city’s voter count by over a third.
Election officials have opened a window for affected residents to file claims, lodge objections, and correct their records. This period runs until January 18, 2026, during which individuals who believe their names were wrongly excluded can apply for reinstatement.
The SIR exercise, a nationwide voter roll update initiative, aims to make electoral lists more reliable and reflective of current demographics. While authorities maintain the deletions are part of a routine cleanup, political representatives and civic groups are closely watching the revisions to ensure eligible voters are not disenfranchised.
As Tamil Nadu prepares for its upcoming polls, the updated draft roll marks a major shift in the state’s electoral landscape, emphasizing both administrative rigor and the urgency of voter record accuracy. Eligible voters are urged to verify their status online or with local election offices to secure their place on the final list.
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