Chennai's Final Electoral Roll for 2026 Assembly Elections Released
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has officially unveiled the final electoral roll for the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections. Commissioner J Kumaragurubaran presented the comprehensive document at Ripon Buildings on Monday, with representatives from various political parties in attendance. This release follows a special intensive revision process that has significantly reshaped the city's voter database.
Dramatic Reduction from Previous Figures
In a notable development, approximately one-third of voters previously listed have been removed from the electoral roll. The previous version, frozen in October 2025, contained approximately 40 lakh voters. The current final roll now stands at 28,30,936 eligible electors across 4,079 designated polling stations throughout Chennai.
Commissioner Kumaragurubaran emphasized that this thorough revision process was essential to ensure accuracy and eliminate duplicate or outdated entries. The special intensive revision included multiple verification stages and public awareness campaigns to encourage voter participation and registration accuracy.
Detailed Voter Demographics and Changes
The final roll reveals a diverse electorate with specific gender breakdowns:
- 13,65,763 male voters
- 14,64,344 female voters
- 829 third-gender voters
Compared to the draft roll published on December 19, 2025, which listed 25,79,676 voters, the final version shows an increase of 2,51,260 eligible electors. The draft roll breakdown included 12,47,690 men, 13,31,243 women, and 743 third-gender voters.
Significant additions and deletions occurred during the revision period following the draft publication. A total of 2,70,573 new voters were registered, comprising 1,27,418 men, 1,43,053 women, and 102 third-gender individuals. Conversely, 19,313 names were removed from the list, including 9,345 men, 9,952 women, and 16 third-gender persons.
Constituency-Wise Voter Distribution
The electoral data reveals interesting patterns across Chennai's constituencies:
- Perambur leads with the highest voter count at 2,22,792 electors
- Velachery follows closely with 2,11,691 voters
- Egmore constituency has 1,34,879 registered voters
- Harbour records the lowest electorate at 1,16,896 voters
Statewide Context and Comparison
Beyond Chennai, the Sholinganallur constituency in Chengalpet district emerges as the largest electoral segment in Tamil Nadu with 5.36 lakh voters. This includes 2.62 lakh men and 2.74 lakh women. Avadi in Tiruvallur district follows with 4.28 lakh voters, comprising 2.09 lakh men and 2.19 lakh women.
Voter Verification and Future Registration
Citizens can verify their inclusion in the electoral roll through the Election Commission of India's official website. The process involves navigating to the 'search your name in e-roll' section and using search parameters such as name, EPIC number, or registered mobile number. Additionally, voters can download their booth slips directly from the website.
For prospective new voters, Form 6 applications remain open. Successful applicants will have their names included in subsequent draft electoral rolls following the 2026 elections. The GCC encourages all eligible citizens to participate in the democratic process and ensure their registration details remain current and accurate.
The comprehensive revision process reflects the Election Commission's commitment to maintaining transparent and accurate voter databases ahead of crucial state assembly elections. Political parties have welcomed the updated roll as a foundation for fair electoral competition in 2026.
