The Election Commission has ordered a special revision of Assam’s electoral roll for the upcoming assembly polls, with January 1, 2026, as the qualifying date. This mandatory house-to-house verification aims to include all eligible citizens without requiring proof of eligibility. Details of ‘doubtful’ voters will be carried forward pending tribunal orders. NEW DELHI: Election Commission on Monday ordered a ‘special revision’ (SR) of the electoral roll in Assam, due for assembly polls next year, with Jan 1, 2026, as the qualifying date. The SR will involve mandatory house-to-house (H2H) verification but differs from the special intensive revision (SIR) in that it will not seek documentation from any elector to prove their eligibility to vote.The state poll machinery would ensure that every eligible person who fulfils the criteria under Article 326 of the Constitution – being a citizen of India, not less than 18 years, and an ordinary resident not disqualified under any law or of unsound mind – is included in the roll.As regards ‘doubtful’ voters, or ‘D’ voters – suspected illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, classified as such by EC in 1997, who remain on the rolls but are not allowed to vote – EC said their particulars will be carried forward to the draft electoral roll without any change. “Any modification, including removal or deletion, shall be made only upon receipt of any order from the competent foreigner tribunal or an appropriate court of law,” ordered the poll panel.The pre-revision activities for the SR exercise in Assam shall begin on Tuesday, followed by actual revision from Nov 22 to Dec 20. An integrated draft electoral roll will be published on Dec 27, followed by the filing of claims and objections from Dec 27 to Jan 22, 2026. These will be disposed of by Feb 2, and the final roll will be published on Feb 10.Explaining the rationale behind not ordering a SIR in Assam, a senior EC functionary said the legal criteria to determine citizenship, including the cutoff date, is different for Assam vis-a-vis the rest of the country. Also, while a national register of citizens (NRC) was prepared for Assam in 2019, the final data is yet to be published, and Supreme Court is seized of the matter. Conducting a SIR at this juncture would have led to a conflict between SIR and NRC data. In any case, over 10,000 citizenship challenges are still pending before foreigners tribunals, the functionary said.On use of the nomenclature “special revision” and not the usual “annual or special summary revision”, the EC officer said that Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, terms any roll revision by EC with a different procedure as “special” revision. EC also avoided the term “summary” revision as it signifies a non-serious exercise not necessarily covering H2H verification. “This exercise will require the mandatory three H2H visits by BLOs to get the forms signed by each elector,” said the officer.During the field verification, BLOs will be given a pre-filled register listing the existing electors. They will collect information on voters who are dead, registered at multiple places or permanently shifted, as well as roll corrections in Statement 1, on unenrolled eligible citizens in Statement 2, and on prospective electors in Statement 3.About the AuthorBharti JainBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosJaishankar, Russian FM Lavrov Hold Key Talks in Moscow Ahead of Putin’s India Visit ‘In 3 Weeks’India Doubles Down On Russian Oil Imports Despite U.S. Sanctions HeatBangladesh Seeks Hasina’s Return As India Notes ICT Tribunal Verdict, Calls For Peace And Stability’This Generation Can Bring Viksit Bharat Before 2047’: Army Chief Dwivedi’s Message To Gen ZHasina Verdict Sparks Outrage as Ex-Indian Envoy Questions Evidence and Awami League Cries Black DayPak Army Chief Asim Munir Vows ‘Strong Response’, Army Chief Dwivedi Warns Op Sindoor Was A TrailerPM Modi Condoles Families as 45 Indians Feared Dead in Saudi Bus CrashOusted Bangladesh PM Hasina Calls ICT’s Death Sentence ‘Rigged’, Says It Denied Fair Trial RightsFrench Consulate Staffer Molested In Bandra As Mumbai Police Launch Rapid Hunt To Track The SuspectAfter 5th August 2019…’ Army Chief Counters Mehbooba’s Charge Against Centre Over J&K Situation123PhotostoriesBirthday special: Nayanthara’s 5 best performances that seal her name as the ‘Lady Superstar’Zubeen Garg birth anniversary special: Lesser-known facts about the legendNayanthara birthday special: Social media moments with Vignesh Shivan and the twinsLemon, olive oil and more: 7 natural remedies to help relieve constipationZubeen Garg’s birth anniversary special: Films that define his cinematic journeyWhat happens when you eat garlic soaked in matha (buttermilk)This simple at-home test can reveal how fast your digestive system worksWorld’s 5 underrated travel destinations to bookmark, and whyFrom wanting to find a boyfriend in Bigg Boss Marathi to their age-gap; Nikki Tamboli and Arbaz Patel open up about their love story3 common mistakes to avoid while consuming fruits and why123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodaySheikh Hasina VerdictBihar Government FormationGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingQTCinderellaTravis KelceKlay ThompsonAuston Matthews Net WorthDana WhiteTrey Benson InjuryLaMelo BallGiannis AntetokounmpoZion WilliamsonWho is Ella Hakkinen
NEW DELHI: Election Commission on Monday ordered a ‘special revision’ (SR) of the electoral roll in Assam, due for assembly polls next year, with Jan 1, 2026, as the qualifying date. The SR will involve mandatory house-to-house (H2H) verification but differs from the special intensive revision (SIR) in that it will not seek documentation from any elector to prove their eligibility to vote.The state poll machinery would ensure that every eligible person who fulfils the criteria under Article 326 of the Constitution – being a citizen of India, not less than 18 years, and an ordinary resident not disqualified under any law or of unsound mind – is included in the roll.As regards ‘doubtful’ voters, or ‘D’ voters – suspected illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, classified as such by EC in 1997, who remain on the rolls but are not allowed to vote – EC said their particulars will be carried forward to the draft electoral roll without any change. “Any modification, including removal or deletion, shall be made only upon receipt of any order from the competent foreigner tribunal or an appropriate court of law,” ordered the poll panel.The pre-revision activities for the SR exercise in Assam shall begin on Tuesday, followed by actual revision from Nov 22 to Dec 20. An integrated draft electoral roll will be published on Dec 27, followed by the filing of claims and objections from Dec 27 to Jan 22, 2026. These will be disposed of by Feb 2, and the final roll will be published on Feb 10.Explaining the rationale behind not ordering a SIR in Assam, a senior EC functionary said the legal criteria to determine citizenship, including the cutoff date, is different for Assam vis-a-vis the rest of the country. Also, while a national register of citizens (NRC) was prepared for Assam in 2019, the final data is yet to be published, and Supreme Court is seized of the matter. Conducting a SIR at this juncture would have led to a conflict between SIR and NRC data. In any case, over 10,000 citizenship challenges are still pending before foreigners tribunals, the functionary said.On use of the nomenclature “special revision” and not the usual “annual or special summary revision”, the EC officer said that Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, terms any roll revision by EC with a different procedure as “special” revision. EC also avoided the term “summary” revision as it signifies a non-serious exercise not necessarily covering H2H verification. “This exercise will require the mandatory three H2H visits by BLOs to get the forms signed by each elector,” said the officer.During the field verification, BLOs will be given a pre-filled register listing the existing electors. They will collect information on voters who are dead, registered at multiple places or permanently shifted, as well as roll corrections in Statement 1, on unenrolled eligible citizens in Statement 2, and on prospective electors in Statement 3.
