39,000 applications received to add names after draft voter list release

After the release of Tamil Nadu’s draft electoral roll, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Archana Patnaik has revealed that a significant number of applications have already been submitted by citizens seeking inclusion of their names in the voter list. As of December 22, about 39,821 applications have been received specifically for adding names to the draft list, while 413 forms have been filed for deletion of names.

The draft electoral roll, published on December 19, 2025, is part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists carried out by the Election Commission of India (ECI). This revision — involving detailed house-to-house verification of voter data — led to the removal of over 97 lakh names statewide, due to reasons such as voters being deceased, shifted to other addresses, duplicate entries, or untraceable.

Under the current electoral process, eligible voters whose names are missing from the draft roll can seek inclusion by submitting the Form 6 application to their Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Booth Level Officer (BLO). This window to apply for additions will remain open for approximately one month, giving voters adequate time to ensure their names are correctly listed ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

CEO Patnaik noted that election agents from political parties — including the DMK, AIADMK, BJP, and Congress — are actively assisting voters in completing and submitting their forms. Party volunteers have been helping eligible electors collect and fill out Form 6 submissions for inclusion, and also guiding them through the process to avoid errors that could delay acceptance.

The revision drive is aimed at ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the electoral database, while safeguarding the right to vote for every eligible citizen. After the draft roll period, claims and objections — including requests to add or delete names — can be filed until January 18, 2026 before the final electoral roll is published.

Election officials and political observers have emphasized that this verification period is especially important due to the scale of changes made during the SIR exercise. Voters are advised to verify their details either online through the Election Commission’s portal and the CEO Tamil Nadu website, or in person at their local polling station.