The Election Commission of India has released the draft electoral rolls following the special intensive revision exercise in tamil nadu and gujarat, revealing the removal of a very large number of names from the voter lists in both states. The draft lists, published on Friday, December 19, 2025, show that more than 97 lakh names have been deleted from the voter roll in tamil nadu, while over 73 lakh names have been removed in gujarat. The development has drawn attention because of the scale of deletions and the reasons cited by the election authorities, which include deaths, migration, and duplicate registrations across states.
The special intensive revision, commonly referred to as SIR, is a detailed verification process undertaken periodically to ensure that electoral rolls remain accurate and up to date. According to the commission, the objective of this exercise is to remove ineligible names while ensuring that genuine voters are not excluded. The newly released draft lists are not final and are open to claims and objections, allowing citizens to seek corrections before the rolls are formally notified for future elections.
massive reduction in tamil nadu voter list after verification
In tamil nadu, the impact of the special intensive revision has been particularly significant. Before the start of the SIR process, the state had approximately 6.41 crore registered voters. However, after the completion of the verification exercise and the publication of the draft electoral roll, the total number of voters has come down to around 5.43 crore. This means that more than 97 lakh names have been removed from the voter list, marking one of the largest clean-up exercises in the state’s recent electoral history.
According to data released by the Election Commission of India, a substantial portion of the deleted names belonged to voters who were no longer alive. The commission identified nearly 27 lakh entries in the tamil nadu voter list that corresponded to deceased individuals whose names had continued to appear in earlier rolls. Removing these names, officials said, was essential to prevent misuse and to maintain the credibility of the electoral process.
Another major reason for the deletions was large-scale migration. The commission found that around 66 lakh names belonged to individuals who had moved out of tamil nadu and settled in other states or regions. Such migration is common due to employment, education, and personal reasons, but unless voters formally update their details or apply for deletion from their previous constituency, their names often remain on older voter lists. The SIR process aimed to identify such cases through field verification and data matching, leading to the removal of these entries from the draft roll.
In addition to deaths and migration, the commission also addressed the issue of duplicate registrations. Around 3.4 lakh voters in tamil nadu were found to be registered in more than one place, either within the state or across different states. Since electoral law allows a person to be registered only in one constituency, these duplicate entries were removed to ensure compliance with legal provisions. Election officials have stated that individuals affected by such deletions can submit claims if they believe their names have been wrongly removed.
The revised draft roll indicates that the next assembly election in tamil nadu will be conducted with approximately 5.43 crore eligible voters, assuming no major changes after the claims and objections period. The commission has emphasised that the publication of the draft list is part of a transparent process and that public participation is crucial to finalising an accurate voter roll.
gujarat draft roll also sees large deletions due to migration and deaths
Alongside tamil nadu, the Election Commission has also released the SIR draft voter list for Gujarat, where a similarly large number of names have been removed. The draft roll for gujarat shows that about 73.7 lakh entries have been deleted following the intensive revision exercise. As in tamil nadu, the reasons cited for these deletions include migration, deaths, and multiple registrations.
Data shared by the commission indicates that the largest category of deletions in gujarat relates to migration. Around 51.86 lakh names were removed because the individuals concerned were found to be no longer residing in the state. Gujarat has a highly mobile population, with significant internal migration linked to industrial work, trade, and business opportunities across the country. Over time, this mobility can lead to outdated voter records unless regularly updated, making the SIR process particularly important.
Deaths accounted for another substantial portion of the deletions in gujarat. The commission identified approximately 18.07 lakh names belonging to deceased voters that were still present in earlier electoral rolls. Removing these names, officials said, helps prevent electoral malpractice and ensures that the rolls reflect the current electorate accurately.
In addition, around 3.81 lakh voters were found to have duplicate registrations, either within gujarat or in other states. These names were removed to bring the voter list in line with electoral rules that prohibit multiple registrations. The commission has clarified that individuals whose names have been deleted due to duplication can choose the constituency in which they wish to remain registered by following the prescribed claims procedure.
The Election Commission has stressed that the draft voter lists for both states are provisional. Citizens have the opportunity to verify their details and submit objections or requests for inclusion if they believe their names have been wrongly deleted. Booth-level officers and online platforms will be used to facilitate this process, ensuring that eligible voters are not disenfranchised.
Officials have also pointed out that large-scale deletions during special intensive revisions are not unusual, particularly in states with high population movement and older voter databases. According to the commission, the aim is not to reduce voter numbers but to improve the accuracy and integrity of the electoral rolls. Once the claims and objections period is completed, the final voter lists will be published and used for upcoming elections in both states.
