Serious questions are being raised about the credibility of Tamil Nadu's voter list revision process after the recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive. Residents across Chennai report that the names of deceased individuals and people who have moved away continue to appear in the draft electoral rolls, despite repeated complaints to election officials.
Residents Frustrated by Uncorrected Errors
In multiple neighbourhoods, citizens have found that informing booth-level officers (BLOs) about deaths or relocations has yielded no results. Vasudevan, a resident of Mylapore, highlighted a glaring issue in his gated community. He stated that despite the SIR process, names of people who shifted out four years ago, and even some who have died, remain on the list.
"The forms were not issued to these people during the SIR, yet we have no idea how their names continue to appear," Vasudevan said. He suspects that officers may have retained old forms and failed to track the changes. He pointed out that more than 20 people no longer live in his apartment complex, but their voting identities persist on the rolls.
Death Certificates Ignored, Promises of Future Action
The problem is not confined to one area. In Royapuram, a similar case has emerged. G Janaki reported that her mother-in-law, who passed away earlier in 2025, is still listed. The family had submitted the death certificate to the concerned BLO and clearly informed them of the death during the SIR.
"They even marked her as deceased on the form. However, her name is still on the list," Janaki explained. When the family enquired at a special camp, they were told the name would be removed in the upcoming final list, leaving them wondering about the efficacy of the current revision drive.
No Verification for Old Data
The situation in Alandur further underscores the lack of verification. V Shymala said her family never submitted SIR forms as they moved from Saidapet four years ago. Their forms were not handed over to neighbours after they left.
"Despite not filling out the form, our names continue to appear in the draft roll. Without any verification, how can the names remain on the list, and what is the purpose of this process?" Shymala asked, echoing the frustration of many.
Official Response and the Path Forward
When confronted with these discrepancies, Additional District Election Officer K Karpagam offered possible explanations. She suggested that family members might have submitted forms during the SIR by mistake, or BLOs could have erroneously registered the details.
However, she provided a solution for affected residents. Karpagam stated that to remove the names of deceased persons or those who have shifted, citizens can utilize the special camps for claims and objections. After due process at these camps, the names will be removed in the final electoral roll.
This series of errors has cast a shadow over the efficiency of the on-ground verification process during the SIR. It highlights a significant gap between the administrative exercise and the accurate reflection of the electorate on the ground, prompting calls for a more robust and error-free system.
