Chennai, Oct 13:
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued detailed instructions governing the filing of claims and objections during the forthcoming Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls, stipulating that objections will not be entertained when submitted by post or in bulk by individual electors. The directions come amid a political controversy over the revision of voter lists and allegations of irregularities in the electoral process.
In a communication to all Chief Electoral Officers, the Commission laid down procedures for handling applications seeking the inclusion, correction or deletion of names from electoral rolls. The instructions are intended to ensure that objections are processed through prescribed channels and verified by the appropriate electoral authorities.
Following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the Commission is considering conducting the SSR across Tamil Nadu. The exercise is expected to take place over a month and will include special camps at designated polling stations to facilitate applications for adding names, correcting entries and removing ineligible names. A revised electoral roll is expected to be published in January 2027 after the process is completed.
Under the new instructions, objections to the proposed inclusion or deletion of a name must be submitted using Form 7. The Commission has specified that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) must verify applications before deciding on them. An individual elector will be permitted to submit a maximum of six applications online at a time, while bulk submission of physical forms by individuals will not be accepted.
The Commission has also reiterated the safeguards that must be followed before a name is deleted from the electoral roll. If an ERO receives an objection, the officer must issue notice to the objector and conduct a personal hearing. The objector’s statement must be recorded separately for every Form 7 application, according to the directions.
The requirement for individual verification and hearings is significant because objections to voter entries can affect a citizen’s right to participate in elections. The prescribed procedure places responsibility on electoral officials to examine the merits of each application instead of allowing deletions to be made solely on the basis of unverified objections.
The proposed revision is expected to provide an opportunity for eligible voters to check their entries and seek corrections ahead of the next electoral roll publication. Voters will need to ensure that their names and personal details are accurately reflected in the list and use the prescribed procedures if any changes are required.
The Commission’s announcement comes at a time when the SIR exercise has become a point of political contention, with parties raising concerns about possible voter deletions and the transparency of the revision process. The new directions specify how claims and objections must be handled, although the effectiveness of the exercise will ultimately depend on implementation, verification and timely disposal of applications.