The Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken a crucial step towards ensuring clean electoral rolls by publishing the draft voter list for the states of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. This follows the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in these regions. The draft rolls were made available to the public on Friday, December 19, 2025.
One-Month Window for Claims and Objections
Citizens now have a critical one-month period to scrutinize the draft and ensure their voting rights are correctly recorded. The Commission has set the deadline for submitting any claims, objections, or requests for correction as January 18, 2026. This window allows voters to apply for the inclusion of a missing name, request the deletion of an ineligible entry, or correct errors in existing details. To promote transparency, the ECI has mandated that reasons for any proposed deletion of names must be clearly provided.
How to Check Your Name in Gujarat's Draft Electoral Roll
For voters in Gujarat, the primary platform for verification is the official website of the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). The process is designed to be accessible, allowing individuals to confirm if their name is present, or if it has been marked under categories like 'absent', 'shifted', or 'deleted'.
Step-by-step online verification:
- Visit the CEO Gujarat portal at: https://voters.eci.gov.in/download-eroll?stateCode=S06.
- Navigate to the 'Electoral Rolls' section on the homepage.
- Select the 'year of revision' as '2026'.
- You will see a list of all 33 districts in Gujarat. Click 'Show' next to your district.
- A list of Assembly Constituencies within that district will appear. Select your constituency.
- This action will open a Google Drive folder containing booth-level voter lists in PDF format, organized by taluka, village, or polling booth number.
- Locate and open the PDF file corresponding to your specific polling booth to find your details.
Alternatively, voters can use the National Voters' Service Portal (https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in/) to search by EPIC number. Other methods include using the ECINET mobile app or directly contacting your Booth Level Officer (BLO), Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), or Assistant ERO.
Understanding the Booth-Level Officer Report
Each booth-level PDF file contains a comprehensive summary report prepared by the BLO. This report is a key transparency measure, detailing the total number of voters in that booth and categorizing how many have been classified as deceased, permanently migrated, duplicate entries, or absent. Following this summary is a detailed list of voters whose names have been recommended for deletion, complete with their serial numbers, EPIC numbers, and the specific reason for removal.
If you are unsure of your booth number, you can refer to the forms issued during the SIR exercise or contact your local BLO for assistance. The Commission has also stated that hard and soft copies of these draft rolls will be provided to representatives of recognized political parties by the District Election Officers.
Why This Intensive Revision is Critical
The Special Intensive Revision is a focused drive to purify the electoral database by removing ineligible entries and including eligible ones. This exercise has revealed significant demographic shifts, particularly in industrial hubs. For instance, in Gujarat, it was found that nearly 40 lakh voters have permanently shifted, with major movements recorded from cities like Ahmedabad and Surat.
This highlights a vital concern: many individuals who relocated during or after the COVID-19 pandemic may not have updated their address in the electoral roll. Consequently, their names might have been removed from their previous location. The ECI urges every citizen to proactively verify their enrollment status within the stipulated period to ensure that no eligible voter is deprived of their franchise and that the electoral roll remains accurate and robust for future democratic exercises.
