The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the publication of the final electoral rolls for Assam following a Special Revision exercise. As a result, more than 243,000 names have been removed from the draft list, as the region prepares for upcoming Assembly elections.
According to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Assam, the revised voter list now comprises 24,958,139 electors, reflecting a decrease of 0.97 percent from the draft roll that was published on December 27 of the previous year, which had recorded 25,201,624 voters. The final update consists of 12,482,213 male voters, 12,475,583 female voters, and 343 third-gender voters.
These deletions resulted from the claims and objections process that accompanied the Special Revision exercise. During the verification phase, officials identified 478,992 deceased electors, 523,680 individuals who had changed their place of residence, and 53,619 cases of multiple entries. These figures were incorporated into the final electoral roll following proper procedures.
Despite these deletions, the Special Revision exercise had initially indicated a 1.35 percent increase compared to the last final roll published in January 2025, prior to the recent verification process.
The CEO’s office clarified that voters whose names were removed due to being classified as “permanently shifted” still have avenues for legal redress. In accordance with the Representation of the People Act of 1950, affected voters can appeal against their deletion within 15 days to the district magistrate and may file a second appeal within 30 days to the Chief Electoral Officer. Eligible voters who missed previous opportunities to apply for address changes—particularly those displaced due to eviction actions—can now apply for re-inclusion at their new addresses.
Election officials have emphasized that voters who were unable to submit required forms during the revision process can now utilize Form 6, which is designated for inclusion in the electoral roll. This option is specifically available for those who were barred from filing Form 8 due to objections or deletions related to Form 7.
Moreover, the CEO has directed district election officers to strictly verify applications to ensure that only eligible voters are included while protecting the rights of valid citizens.
The Special Revision exercise has stirred political controversy in Assam, with opposition parties raising concerns about potential misuse for “vote theft.” They allege that genuine citizens, particularly from minority religious communities, are facing unnecessary scrutiny. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has previously claimed that notices have mainly been issued to ‘Miyas,’ a term historically used to refer to Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, positioning it as a method to exert pressure, while alleging that BJP workers have filed numerous complaints against supposed illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
Simultaneously, the Election Commission has provided updates on the revision of electoral rolls in West Bengal, extending the timeline for the Special Intensive Revision. The final publication date has been pushed to February 14, acknowledging the comprehensive enumeration work required and the necessity for rationalization of polling stations. The door-to-door verification in West Bengal concluded on December 11, and draft rolls were published shortly thereafter, with the claims and objections period running until January 15.
The Election Commission reiterated the importance of public participation in the electoral roll revision process across all states, emphasizing that accurate and updated electoral rolls are vital for conducting free and fair elections.
