The Election Commission of India has initiated a significant electoral exercise in Assam, ordering a Special Revision of the state's voter rolls with the final electoral list scheduled for publication on February 10, 2026. The poll body has set January 1, 2026 as the qualifying date for this comprehensive revision process.
Understanding the Special Revision Exercise
According to election officials, the Special Revision represents a middle ground between the annual special summary revision and the more rigorous Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This focused exercise aims to update and correct the electoral database without undertaking a full-scale enumeration process.
A senior functionary explained the methodology: "It is in a way an upgrade of special summary revision... instead of enumeration forms, booth-level officers will verify electors on a pre-filled register." This approach is designed to strengthen accuracy and address gaps in the voter list through structured but moderate verification procedures.
Detailed Timeline and Verification Process
The Election Commission has established a clear schedule for the Special Revision exercise. Door-to-door verification will be conducted from November 22 to December 20, followed by the publication of the integrated draft electoral roll on December 27.
For field verification, booth level officers (BLOs) will receive pre-filled registers containing details of existing electors in their respective areas. Each household will serve as the fundamental unit for confirming or correcting voter information through direct interaction with residents or family heads.
Special Provisions for D-Voters
The poll panel has clarified that details of D-Voters (doubtful voters) will not be included in the BLO registers since no verification is required for these cases. D-Voters are individuals flagged for lacking valid citizenship documents under the Foreigners Act, 1946, and are identified through special tribunals.
While these individuals do not receive voter cards, their particulars including name, age, and photograph will continue to be carried forward to the draft electoral roll without changes. The Commission emphasized that any modification, including removal, can only occur "upon receipt of an order from the competent Foreigners' Tribunal or an appropriate court of law."
Political Response and Broader Context
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the Election Commission's decision and pledged full cooperation from the state administration. In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister stated: "The Govt of Assam welcomes the Election Commission of India's decision to undertake a Special Revision of the electoral rolls with 01.01.2026 as the qualifying date. This will help ensure clean, updated and accurate electoral rolls for all eligible citizens."
He further assured that "Assam will extend full cooperation to the Election Commission to complete the revision in a transparent and time-bound manner."
This development comes amid broader electoral roll revisions across India. Last month, the EC ordered Special Intensive Revision for several states including Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and union territories of Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar recently explained the unique approach for Assam: "Under the Citizenship Act, there are separate provisions for citizenship in Assam. Under the supervision of the Supreme Court, the exercise of checking citizenship is about to be completed. The June 24 SIR order was for the entire country. Under such circumstances, this would not have applied to Assam."
The Special Revision exercise gains significance with Assam scheduled to hold elections next year, along with Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and West Bengal in 2026. This strategic approach to voter list verification aims to ensure electoral integrity while addressing the state's specific demographic considerations.
