The Election Commission of India released the integrated draft electoral roll for Tamil Nadu on December 19, 2025, following the completion of a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, resulting in the deletion of 97.37 lakh voter names from the previous list of 6.41 crore electors. Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik announced that the updated draft roll now lists 5.43 crore voters, comprising approximately 2.66 crore men, 2.77 crore women, and 7,191 transgender individuals, with deletions attributed to verified cases of death, migration, duplication, and absence.

The breakdown of removals includes 26.94 lakh deceased voters, 66.44 lakh identified as shifted or absent, and 3.39 lakh duplicate entries. Districts with significant deletions include Chennai (14.25 lakh, a 35.6% reduction), Coimbatore (6.50 lakh), and Thiruvallur (over 6 lakh), reflecting intensive door-to-door verification by Booth Level Officers to ensure accuracy ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

The SIR process, with January 1, 2026, as the qualifying date, involved extended enumeration periods and has sparked political debate, with opposition parties alleging potential disenfranchisement, though the ECI maintains the exercise enhances electoral integrity by removing ineligible entries. Voters are urged to verify their status online via the CEO Tamil Nadu website or Voters' Service Portal, with separate lists for deceased, shifted, and duplicate categories made available for transparency.

Also Read: EC Revises SIR Deadlines For Six States; West Bengal Remains on Original Schedule

A claims and objections period runs from December 19, 2025, to January 18, 2026, allowing corrections or appeals through online portals, Booth Level Officers, or district offices. The final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on February 17, 2026, underscoring the ECI's efforts to maintain a clean and updated voter database in the poll-bound state.

Also Read: EC Revises SIR Deadlines For Six States; West Bengal Remains on Original Schedule