Election Commission Orders Special Revision of Assam Voter List

The Election Commission of India has announced a "Special Revision" of the electoral rolls in Assam, with the final voter list set to be published on February 10, 2026. The qualifying date for this revision is January 1, 2026. This decision comes as Assam prepares for elections next year.

The revision process will include door-to-door verification from November 22 to December 20, 2025. Booth-level officers will use pre-filled registers to check for duplicate entries, deceased voters, and those who have moved away. The integrated draft electoral roll will be published on December 27, 2025, allowing for claims and objections until January 22, 2026.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the Election Commission's decision, stating, "This will help ensure clean, updated and accurate electoral rolls for all eligible citizens. Assam will extend full cooperation to the Election Commission to complete the revision in a transparent and time-bound manner."

The Special Revision is distinct from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. It is a focused effort to update the electoral rolls without a full enumeration, aimed at correcting inaccuracies in a structured manner. In contrast, SIR involves more rigorous verification and is typically used for major corrections.

The Election Commission clarified that the details of D-Voters, who are individuals flagged for lacking valid citizenship documents, will not be included in the BLO register. Their information will remain unchanged in the draft electoral roll until a competent tribunal or court orders any modifications.

This revision follows a recent directive for SIR in several states, including Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, which are also preparing for elections in 2026. The Chief Election Commissioner had previously indicated that a separate order for Assam would be issued due to its unique provisions under the Citizenship Act.

The upcoming revision aims to ensure that all eligible voters are accurately represented in the electoral rolls, reinforcing the integrity of the electoral process in Assam.