The Election Commission of India (ECI) has published the draft electoral rolls for Tamil Nadu, with the state’s electorate now standing at over 5.77 crore voters following a Special Summary Revision (SSR) exercise. The release of these draft rolls marks the commencement of a period for citizens to verify their details and submit any claims or objections.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the consolidated draft electoral roll for Tamil Nadu lists a total of 5,77,46,618 voters. This figure comprises 2,82,03,992 male voters, 2,95,34,734 female voters, and 7,892 voters identifying as third gender. The draft rolls were made available across designated locations in all districts on November 12, with many of these locations being polling stations situated within school buildings. Additionally, the rolls have been published on the Tamil Nadu Election Department’s official website, www.elections.tn.gov.in, and are also accessible through the Election Commission’s official portal, voters.eci.gov.in, and the ECINET mobile application.
The qualifying date for inclusion in these rolls is January 1, 2027. The period for citizens to submit claims and objections, which includes applications for inclusion of new voters, deletion of ineligible entries, and correction of existing details, will remain open from November 12 to December 11, 2026. Special camps are scheduled to be organised at designated locations on November 21, 22, and 29 to facilitate this process. Eligible citizens can also submit their applications online through the aforementioned websites or the Voter Helpline App, provided they have valid address and age proof.
The Sholinganallur Assembly constituency in the Chengalpattu district has emerged as the constituency with the highest number of voters in Tamil Nadu, recording 5,58,729 voters. This constituency includes 2,72,898 male voters, 2,85,714 female voters, and 117 third-gender voters. Conversely, the Harbour Assembly constituency in Chennai district has the lowest electorate, with 1,20,852 voters, consisting of 60,043 male voters, 60,747 female voters, and 62 third-gender voters.
The publication of these draft rolls follows a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Information available indicates that over 97 lakh electors were removed during a previous SIR exercise, and the current draft rolls reflect an increase of 4,03,327 electors compared to the rolls released on April 6 of this year, which had 5,73,43,291 electors. The additions include young, first-time voters who have turned 18 and have been enrolled through quarterly revisions, alongside those who were initially removed but have since had their eligibility reconfirmed.
The ECI has provided copies of the electoral rolls, both in printed and electronic formats, to recognised political parties. The process of claims and objections is a critical step in ensuring the accuracy of the electoral roll before the final publication, which is scheduled for January 4, 2027. This revision aims to ensure that the electoral database is comprehensive and accurate, reflecting the current eligible voter population in the state.
Concerns were raised in Tirunelveli district regarding the alleged deletion of voters from the Manjolai hill region. Representatives from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) reportedly approached the District Collector, alleging the removal of 634 voters without valid reasons and that their names had not been restored despite repeated complaints. They also claimed that some deceased individuals had been wrongly classified as deceased in electoral records. Similar issues have been noted in other areas during revision exercises, highlighting the importance of the claims and objections period for addressing such grievances.
The Special Summary Revision (SSR) for 2027, with January 1, 2027, as the qualifying date, is being undertaken to update the electoral rolls. This process involves adding new voters, deleting ineligible entries, and correcting existing details. The Election Commission of India conducts these revisions periodically to maintain an accurate and up-to-date voter database, crucial for the conduct of free and fair elections.
The Chenab Times News Desk
