The election commission of india has revised the schedule for the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in uttar pradesh, recalibrating key dates to ensure a structured verification process while maintaining January 1, 2026 as the qualification date, a move that aligns the state’s voter roll exercise with the broader, nationwide revision being carried out in phases.
The revised timeline, released on Tuesday, introduces a fresh publication date for the draft electoral roll and clearly defines the window for claims, objections, verification, and finalisation. The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of the special intensive revision process across multiple states, where large-scale deletions and corrections have sparked political debate, administrative review, and judicial attention. By updating the schedule, the election commission has sought to provide clarity to electors and officials in India’s most populous state, while ensuring consistency with procedures being followed elsewhere.
revised timeline for uttar pradesh and administrative process
Under the updated schedule announced by the Election Commission of India, the draft electoral roll for Uttar Pradesh will now be published on January 6, 2026. From that date, electors will be able to file claims and objections until February 6, 2026, a full month-long window intended to allow sufficient time for citizens to review entries, seek corrections, or challenge inclusions and deletions.
The chief electoral officer of uttar pradesh stated that the subsequent stages of the process will run from January 6 to February 27, 2026. During this period, electoral authorities will undertake verification, disposal of claims and objections, and all related proceedings, including hearings where required. This phase is crucial, as it determines the accuracy and integrity of the final voter list, balancing administrative checks with citizen participation.
The final electoral roll for uttar pradesh is scheduled to be published on March 6, 2026. This publication will mark the conclusion of the special intensive revision exercise in the state, providing an updated and verified electoral database for future elections. Officials have emphasised that the revised schedule is designed to ensure transparency and adequate time for scrutiny, particularly in a state with a vast electorate and complex administrative landscape.
The special intensive revision is being conducted across the country in two phases. The first phase has already been completed in Bihar, while the second phase includes a diverse group of states and union territories: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. The staggered approach reflects the election commission’s effort to manage resources effectively while maintaining uniform standards.
Election officials have maintained that January 1, 2026 as the qualification date remains unchanged nationwide, ensuring that eligibility criteria are consistent across states. This date determines the age and residency status of electors for inclusion in the rolls, a foundational element of the revision exercise.
nationwide sir progress and scale of voter list changes
The revision of the schedule for uttar pradesh comes against the backdrop of significant developments in other states undergoing the special intensive revision. In Tamil Nadu, the election commission published the draft electoral roll on December 19 after collecting more than 5.43 crore voter enumeration forms, reflecting the scale of the exercise in a state with a large and politically active electorate. The final electoral roll for Tamil Nadu is scheduled to be published on February 2, 2026. As part of the process, over 97.37 lakh electors were removed due to reasons such as death, change of residence, or multiple enrolments, figures that have drawn attention to the extent of corrections being made.
Chhattisgarh has also witnessed substantial changes during its ongoing special intensive revision. More than 27 lakh voter names have been deleted from the rolls so far. The claims and objections window in the state remains open from December 23 to January 22, 2026, with hearings and verification planned until February 14. The final electoral roll for Chhattisgarh is expected to be published on February 21, 2026, aligning broadly with timelines adopted in other states in the second phase.
Kerala’s experience with the revision has been particularly notable, with over 24.08 lakh electors deleted following the publication of the draft roll after the completion of the sir exercise. The final electoral roll for Kerala is also scheduled for release on February 21, 2026. The scale of deletions has sparked political debate and legal challenges, highlighting the sensitivity of voter roll revisions in states with closely contested elections and high political engagement.
In Madhya Pradesh, the election commission released the first draft voter list after completing the enumeration phase. More than 42.74 lakh voter names were deleted from the rolls, prompting electors to scrutinise the draft closely. Claims and objections in the state can be filed until January 22, 2026, with final publication of the electoral roll slated for February 21. Officials have stressed that the process remains open and corrective in nature, allowing genuine voters to reassert their inclusion where required.
West Bengal has also completed the publication of its draft electoral rolls, which were released on December 16. In that state, over 58.20 lakh electors, accounting for approximately 7.59 per cent of the total electorate, were deleted due to death, permanent migration, or being untraceable. The claims and objections period in West Bengal will remain open until January 15, 2026, giving electors time to address discrepancies before finalisation.
Across states, the special intensive revision has underscored both the administrative challenge and democratic importance of maintaining accurate electoral rolls. Large-scale deletions, while often attributable to routine factors such as death or migration, have heightened public attention and political sensitivity. The election commission has consistently maintained that the exercise is aimed at improving roll integrity rather than disenfranchising voters, and that mechanisms for claims and objections are central to the process.
For uttar pradesh, the revised schedule provides a clearer roadmap at a time when electoral roll accuracy carries significant weight due to the state’s size and political influence. With the draft roll publication, verification period, and final release now clearly defined, the focus will shift to implementation on the ground, public awareness, and the capacity of election officials to manage a complex, time-bound exercise without errors or exclusions.
