Guwahati, February 11, 2026 : The Election Commission of India (ECI) has published the final electoral rolls for Assam after a Special Revision (SR) exercise, removing over 2.43 lakh names from the draft list just months before the upcoming Assembly elections.
According to the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office in Assam, the final roll now contains 2,49,58,139 electors—a decrease of 0.97% from the draft roll published on December 27, 2025, which had 2,52,01,624 voters.
Breakdown of Assam’s Final Voter List 2026
- Male Voters: 1,24,82,213
- Female Voters: 1,24,75,583
- Third-Gender Voters: 343
Reasons for Deletion from Electoral Rolls
The deletions followed the claims and objections process under SR, with authorities identifying:
- 4,78,992 deceased electors
- 5,23,680 voters who had permanently shifted residence
- 53,619 cases of multiple entries
These changes were incorporated into the final roll after due verification.
Legal Remedies for Deleted Voters
The CEO’s office clarified that voters removed on grounds of having “permanently shifted” still have legal options. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1950:
- Affected voters can appeal against deletion within 15 days to the district magistrate.
- A second appeal can be filed within 30 days to the Chief Electoral Officer.
Officials added that eligible voters—especially those displaced due to eviction drives or administrative actions—who couldn’t apply for address changes earlier can now apply for re-inclusion at their new address.
Special Instructions for Voter Re-inclusion
The CEO has directed all District Election Officers (DEOs) to allow affected voters to submit Form 6 (for inclusion) if they were unable to file Form 8 (for correction) earlier due to ongoing objection or deletion processes. Officials have been instructed to conduct rigorous verification to prevent ineligible additions while protecting eligible citizens’ rights.
Political Controversy Over Voter List Revision
The SR exercise has sparked controversy in Assam, with opposition parties alleging misuse for “vote theft” and harassment of genuine citizens, particularly from a religious minority community.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier stated that notices were mainly issued to “Miyas” to keep them “under pressure,” claiming BJP workers filed over five lakh complaints against alleged illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
The term “Miya,” historically a pejorative for Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, has recently been reclaimed by sections of the community as a symbol of assertion.
Update on West Bengal Electoral Roll Revision
Meanwhile, the ECI has extended timelines for West Bengal’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR), pushing the final publication date to February 14 due to extensive enumeration work and polling station rationalization.
Election Commission’s Appeal to Citizens
The Election Commission reiterated its stand, urging citizens across states to actively participate in roll revision exercises, emphasizing that accurate and updated electoral rolls are essential for free and fair elections.
