Tamil Nadu has unveiled its updated electoral rolls after an exhaustive Special Intensive Revision (SIR), slashing 97,37,831 names from the list as directed by the Election Commission and the apex court. The new tally stands at 5.43 crore voters, a development announced officially on Monday.
State-wide data releases by district officials highlight the scale of the exercise, with Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik briefing the media in Chennai. Deceased voters form a bulk of the deletions, supplemented by 66 lakh cases addressed through opportunities for re-inclusion via Form 6 for genuine claimants.
Over 12 lakh individuals flagged for discrepancies must furnish proofs and declarations promptly to retain their voting rights. Transparency remains key, with the process following EC’s January 30 guidelines that mandate public reasoning for removals amid inconsistent data, upholding Supreme Court mandates.
Printed lists are accessible at local panchayats, public spots, administrative blocks, and city wards, offering affected parties 10 days to raise concerns. This phase of SIR, covering nine states and UTs, eliminated nearly 8% of entries. Puducherry’s roll, out on February 14, registers 9.44 lakh voters.
Election authorities emphasize that such revisions fortify the system’s credibility, preventing fraud and ensuring only legitimate voters participate in the democratic process. As Tamil Nadu gears up for polls, this purified list promises fairer representation.