The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed 17 States and Union Territories to undertake a Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls, with January 1, 2027, set as the qualifying date for the exercise.
The revision is being undertaken under Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, to update electoral rolls and ensure the enrolment of eligible voters.
The 17 States and Union Territories covered in this phase are Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.
The Commission said the schedule for States and Union Territories where the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is ongoing or has recently concluded, including Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and Delhi, would be announced separately.
The schedule for Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, where the exercise is yet to begin, will also be notified later, taking local weather conditions into account.
According to the schedule issued by the Commission, polling stations will be rationalised by November 2, while the draft electoral rolls are scheduled to be published on November 12.
The period for filing claims and objections will remain open until December 11. The Commission has set December 28 as the deadline for processing these submissions, with the final electoral rolls expected to be published on January 4, 2027.
The Commission has directed the Chief Secretaries of the respective States and Union Territories to ensure that officials involved in preparing and revising electoral rolls receive adequate manpower and resources.
In its release, the ECI said the directive was issued under Article 324 of the Constitution. It requires Chief Secretaries to ensure that the offices of District Election Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) are not left vacant during the exercise. The directive also covers Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), Booth Level Officer (BLO) supervisors, BLOs and other officials involved in the revision process.
The Commission further stated that officials connected with the SSR exercise must not be transferred without its prior approval during the period beginning with the publication of the draft electoral rolls and ending with the publication of the final rolls.
“In case transfer of any of the above mentioned officers, during the said period becomes necessary, the proposal with full justification shall be forwarded to the Election Commission through the Chief Electoral Officer,” the ECI said.
The Commission said the Electoral Registration Officer of the concerned Assembly constituency would be responsible for ensuring that no eligible citizen is left out of the electoral rolls and that no ineligible person is included or allowed to remain on them.
It also directed Chief Electoral Officers, District Election Officers and Electoral Registration Officers to ensure that every eligible person is enrolled as a voter in accordance with Article 326 of the Constitution and Sections 16 and 19 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
“During the SSR, CEO, DEOs, EROs will ensure that every eligible person as per Article 326 of the Constitution of India and Sections 16 and 19 of the Representation of People Act 1950, is enrolled as an elector,” the Commission said.