Assam launched India’s first-ever Special Revision (SR) of electoral rolls on Tuesday, with Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel emphasizing that no existing voter will lose their status during the exercise. Speaking at Janata Bhawan, Goel clarified that the SR has been introduced as a temporary measure while the final publication of the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) remains pending. Unlike the more rigorous Special Intensive Revision (SIR) conducted in the past, the current process is designed solely to correct technical errors, add newly eligible voters who turn 18, and facilitate address changes without questioning citizenship or demanding fresh documentation.

Goel directly addressed concerns of families displaced by recent anti-encroachment drives, stating that eviction does not strip anyone of their voting rights. “All evicted people remain voters of Assam. They can simply file Form 8 to update their address at their current place of residence,” he said, countering earlier statements from political quarters that had suggested possible deletion of such names. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will conduct house-to-house verification using pre-filled registers with January 1, 2026, as the qualifying date, and no voter will face doorstep scrutiny over NRC status or be asked for new proof of residence.

The timeline for the Special Revision includes publication of the draft roll on December 27, 2025; a window for claims and objections until January 22, 2026; and final publication on February 10, 2026—a roll that will be used for the 2026 Assembly elections. Even after finalization, corrections and new enrollments will be accepted up to ten days before nomination filing. De-duplication software will flag demographic and photographic overlaps, but Goel stressed that no legitimate voter will be removed automatically.

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Political parties across the spectrum have endorsed the shift from SIR to SR until the NRC is finalized, recognising the need to protect existing electors while keeping the rolls accurate. With physical verification planned across all 29,656 polling stations and Booth Level Agents assisting BLOs, the Election Commission aims to complete the exercise transparently and inclusively. The launch marks a significant departure from earlier practices in Assam and sets a precedent for balancing administrative accuracy with the assurance that no eligible citizen will be disenfranchised ahead of crucial state polls.

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