The Election Commission of India has taken a significant decision regarding Assam's electoral preparation, opting for a special revision of voter rolls instead of the Special Intensive Revision currently implemented in twelve other states and union territories.
Why Assam Gets Different Treatment
The commission's choice stems from Assam's unique position regarding citizenship documentation. With the state operating under specific provisions of the Citizenship Act and the Supreme Court-monitored National Register of Citizens process still underway, officials determined that standard procedures could disrupt sensitive verification work.
The special revision will operate from November 22 to December 20 this year, employing a distinct methodology from the SIR approach. Rather than blank forms and comprehensive house-to-house enumeration, the process will utilize pre-filled forms that booth-level officers will verify through door-to-door visits.
Key Guidelines and D-Voter Protocol
The Election Commission has issued specific guidelines clarifying several important aspects of the revision process. Applicants may voluntarily provide Aadhaar numbers, but no application will be denied for inability to furnish this identification. Similarly, no existing entries will be deleted solely due to Aadhaar non-submission.
Regarding doubtful voters (marked with 'D' in electoral rolls), the commission has mandated that all D-voter details be excluded from verification requirements. Their information—including names, ages, photographs, and other identifiers—will be carried forward to draft electoral rolls without modification.
Any changes to D-voter status, including removal or deletion, will only occur upon receiving formal orders from competent Foreigners' Tribunals or appropriate courts of law. As of February 2024, Assam's electoral rolls contained over 96,000 individuals classified as D-voters.
Timeline and Political Response
The electoral revision process follows a clear schedule: integrated updated draft rolls will be published on December 27, with final rolls scheduled for publication on February 10, 2026. This timeline positions the state well for assembly elections expected early next year.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, currently in London, expressed support for the decision through social media platform X. He welcomed the special revision with January 1, 2026, as the qualifying date, stating it would "help ensure clean, updated and accurate electoral rolls for all eligible citizens."
The chief minister further committed that Assam would extend full cooperation to the Election Commission to complete the revision transparently within the designated timeframe.
The revision process encompasses multiple components including disposal of claims and objections, checking of roll health parameters, and the final publication of updated rolls. Meanwhile, the Special Intensive Revision continues in Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.
Among these regions, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and West Bengal—along with Assam—are scheduled to hold elections in 2026, making accurate electoral rolls particularly crucial for these jurisdictions.
