With Assembly elections less than six months away, Assam has seen a major reshaping of its voter list. The Election Commission has removed over 10.56 lakh names from the electoral rolls after completing a Special Revision exercise.
The updated draft rolls show that Assam now has 2,51,09,754 registered voters, excluding 93,021 D-voters, also known as doubtful voters. The revision aims to make the voter list accurate before polling begins.
Why Over 10.56 Lakh Names Were Removed
Election officials said the deletions followed a detailed house-to-house verification drive. Most of the names were removed for routine but important reasons.
According to official data:
- 4,78,992 names were deleted due to death
- 5,23,680 voters had shifted from their registered addresses
- 53,619 entries were found to be duplicates or demographically similar
Officials said the goal was to remove errors and ensure only eligible voters remain on the rolls.
What Are D-Voters in Assam
Assam has a unique voter category called D-voters, short for doubtful voters. These individuals face restrictions because of alleged gaps in their citizenship documents.
Special tribunals under the Foreigners Act, 1946, identify D-voters. People in this category do not receive voter identity cards.
Election officials said all details related to D-voters — including names, age, and photographs — have been carried forward unchanged in the draft electoral rolls.
House-to-House Verification Details
The Special Revision involved a massive ground-level operation. Officials conducted door-to-door verification between November 22 and December 20.
The exercise covered:
- 61,03,103 households
- 35 District Election Officers
- 126 Electoral Registration Officers
- 29,656 Booth Level Officers
- 2,578 BLO Supervisors
Political parties also took part. They deployed 61,533 Booth Level Agents to monitor the process and flag concerns.
Voters Can File Objections Till January 22
The Election Commission has opened a window for public feedback. Voters can file claims or objections until January 22.
Officials will review submissions before publishing the final electoral rolls on February 10. Citizens can request corrections, inclusion of missed names, or removal of errors.
Why Assam Got a Special Revision
While many states are undergoing voter list updates, Assam received a separate Special Revision order. Officials said the exercise falls between the annual summary revision and a full Special Intensive Revision.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar explained the background, saying, “Under the Citizenship Act, there are separate provisions for citizenship in Assam. Under the supervision of the Supreme Court, the exercise of checking citizenship is about to be completed.”
After the revision, Assam now has 31,486 polling stations. Officials said rationalisation will help manage voter turnout and improve election logistics.
What This Means for the Assam Elections
The voter list clean-up is one of the largest in recent years. Officials say it will help conduct free, fair, and error-free elections.
With the political battle heating up, the revised rolls will play a key role in shaping Assam’s electoral future.