Chennai: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has extended the deadline for claims and objections in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Tamil
Nadu’s electoral rolls to January 30, responding to concerns over the removal of a significant number of voters. However, the final electoral roll will be published as scheduled on February 17, the commission confirmed.
The move comes after the previous deadline expired on January 18 and follows strong opposition from political parties, including the ruling DMK, which had staged protests alleging that the SIR exercise was unfairly disenfranchising voters.
Background: The SIR Exercise
As part of a nationwide revision in nine states and three Union Territories, the ECI undertook the SIR in Tamil Nadu from November 4 to December 14, 2025. A draft electoral roll released on December 19 revealed the removal of 97.37 lakh voters from the state’s previous total of 6.41 crore. The deletions included:
-
26.9 lakh deceased persons
-
66.4 lakh voters who no longer resided at the given address
-
3.98 lakh duplicate entries
In Chennai alone, 14.25 lakh voters were removed.
Political Pushback and Voter Applications
The large-scale deletions drew sharp criticism from state parties, who argued that genuine voters—particularly migrants and urban residents—were being excluded. Following the release of the draft, about 13 lakh applications were filed for inclusion, correction, or restoration of names.
Why the Extension?
According to election officials, the extension aims to ensure that eligible voters are not left out, especially given high migration rates in urban areas. Both online and offline facilities are available for submitting claims, with verification being intensified through booth-level officers.
Next Steps
The ECI has emphasized that the final electoral roll, after thorough verification of all applications, will be published on February 17. The extension provides an additional window for new voters who have turned 18, those who have changed addresses, and individuals whose names were erroneously removed or had errors in their details.
With the Tamil Nadu assembly elections approaching, the revised voter list will play a crucial role in shaping the electoral battlefield, making this extension a significant political and administrative development.
