Assam's Final Electoral Roll Highlights Youth and Senior Voter Segments
In a significant development for the state's democratic framework, the final electoral roll for Assam, published on Tuesday following the conclusion of the Special Revision (SR), reveals notable demographic insights. According to data released by the Assam Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anurag Goel, nearly 5% of the total electors are voters in the 18-19 years age group, while 0.8% are aged 85 years and above.
Detailed Breakdown of Voter Statistics
During a press conference held in Guwahati on Wednesday, CEO Anurag Goel provided specific figures. A total of 5,75,258 voters fall into the 18-19 years age category, accounting for 4.6% of the total electors. Additionally, 1,04,238 voters are aged 85 years and above, representing 0.8% of the total electors. These numbers underscore the diverse age representation in Assam's voter base.
The final roll includes over 2.49 crore voters, following the deletion of more than 2.43 lakh names from the draft roll published on December 27 last year. These deletions were due to reasons such as death, shifting of residence, and multiple entries, ensuring a cleaner and more accurate electoral list.
Constituency-Wise Voter Distribution
Among the 126 assembly constituencies in Assam, the Dalgaon constituency stands out with the highest number of voters, exceeding 3.15 lakh. In contrast, the Amri (ST) constituency has the lowest count, with over 1 lakh voters. This variation highlights the population disparities across different regions of the state.
Special Revision Process and Applications
The Special Revision process saw a robust response from the public. Over 5.86 lakh applications for inclusion in the electoral roll through Form 6 were accepted. Concurrently, more than 10.63 lakh applications for deletion—due to death, permanent shifting, or multiple entries via Form 7—were also approved. CEO Goel emphasized that the SR was conducted transparently and efficiently, marking a step forward in electoral management.
He stated, "We have been able to conduct the Special Revision in a transparent and cleaner way. Conclusion of the SR is one step; we have moved forward. Now, the usual continuous updation process of the electoral roll will continue. If anyone does not find their name in the final roll, or if anyone has been left out, they can apply for inclusion as usual."
Mechanisms of Electoral Revisions
Goel explained that the Special Revision serves as an intermediate mechanism between the Special Summary Revision (SSR), conducted before every election, and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). He noted, "In SIR, every individual has to be present during the door-to-door visit with their proof of citizenship. In SR, anyone from a family can provide information about family members to the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the door-to-door visit."
The last SIR was conducted in Assam in 2004. For the recent SR, door-to-door verification by BLOs took place from November 22 to December 20 last year, followed by the filing of claims and objections from December 27 to January 22, after the draft roll's publication.
Inclusion of Evicted Individuals
Addressing the situation of thousands of people evicted from various forest lands they had been occupying illegally, CEO Goel mentioned that many have applied for inclusion in the electoral list from their new locations. He encouraged those who have not yet applied to do so promptly, ensuring their voting rights are secured.
This comprehensive update to Assam's electoral roll not only reflects current demographic trends but also reinforces the state's commitment to maintaining an accurate and inclusive voter database ahead of future elections.
