The Election Commission of India (ECI) has officially announced the schedule for the Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls across 17 states and Union Territories. This comprehensive exercise is aimed at updating the voter lists with January 1, 2027, as the qualifying date. The Commission has issued detailed instructions to the Chief Electoral Officers of the concerned states to ensure the registration of new voters, correction of existing details, and the removal of ineligible entries from the database.
States Covered Under the SSR Program
According to the directive issued by the Commission on October 15, 2026, the Special Summary Revision will be conducted in a wide range of states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Goa, and Manipur. On top of that, the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry are also included in this phase. Many of these states are scheduled to hold assembly elections early next year, making this revision critical for the democratic process.
Key Dates and Revision Schedule
The Election Commission has laid out a strict timeline for the completion of various activities under the SSR. The process of rationalization and rearrangement of polling stations is scheduled to be completed by November 2, 2026. Following this, the integrated draft electoral roll will be published on November 12, 2026. Citizens will have the opportunity to file claims and objections from November 12 to December 11, 2026. The disposal of these claims and objections must be completed by December 28, 2026. Finally, the updated and final electoral roll will be published on January 4, 2027.
Focus on Youth and First-Time Voters
A significant emphasis of this campaign is on registering eligible citizens who have not yet been included in the voter list, particularly young people who will become eligible to vote for the first time. In addition to the primary qualifying date of January 1, 2027, the Commission will also accept advance applications for subsequent qualifying dates, namely April 1, July 1, and October 1, 2027. However, applications related to these future dates will be processed in their respective quarters according to the established procedure.
Application Forms and Digital Access
The Commission has specified the use of various forms for different purposes. Form 6 is designated for new voter registration, while Form 6A is for Indian voters living abroad. Form 7 is to be used for objecting to an inclusion or requesting the removal of a name. Form 8 is intended for changing addresses, correcting details, replacing voter ID cards, and marking voters as persons with disabilities. The Commission clarified that providing an Aadhaar number is voluntary. No eligible person can be denied registration or have their name removed solely because they didn't provide an Aadhaar number. Applications can be submitted through the Voter Service Portal and the ECINet app.
Strict Verification for Name Deletions
To prevent the wrongful deletion of names, the ECI has introduced stringent safeguards. In cases where more than 2 percent of the total voters at a polling station are proposed for deletion, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) must personally conduct a re-verification. Similarly, if a single individual files objections in more than 5 cases, those cases will be subjected to personal scrutiny. The legal process for removing names of deceased, permanently shifted, or duplicate entries must be followed strictly, including field verification and the provision of a hearing opportunity for the concerned person.
Polling Station Restructuring and Political Consultation
The Commission has directed that, under normal circumstances, a polling station shouldn't have more than 1,200 voters. Physical inspections will be mandatory before creating new polling stations or modifying existing ones. Efforts will be made to keep family members in the same section and ensure that voters don't face unnecessary hurdles in reaching their polling stations, while proposals for polling stations will be finalized after consultation with representatives of recognized political parties. On top of that, lists of claims and objections will be shared with political parties and made available on the CEO websites to ensure transparency.
States with Delayed Schedules
The SSR schedule for Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Delhi, Odisha, Sikkim, Tripura, and Telangana will be announced later due to ongoing or recently completed Special Intensive Revisions (SIR). For Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, the schedule will be released later, taking into account the prevailing weather conditions in those regions.