Assam is set to resume its intensive electoral roll revision, but only after a robust data security system for the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is in place, according to Chief Election Officer (CEO) Anurag Goel. This system is expected to be ready by August 2026. The decision highlights the intricate link between the electoral process and the NRC in Assam, a state with a complex demographic landscape.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced a 'Special Revision' (SR) of voter rolls in Assam, distinct from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) being conducted in 12 other states and Union Territories. This tailored approach acknowledges Assam's unique situation, given the ongoing NRC process monitored by the Supreme Court. The NRC updation process in Assam has faced a standstill for years after the publication of a supplementary list on August 31, 2019. Rejection slips have not yet been issued to those excluded, preventing them from challenging the decision at the Foreigners Tribunal (FT), and the Registrar General of India (RGI) has not yet officially notified the NRC. The Supreme Court has disallowed sharing of NRC data unless an Aadhaar-like regime is established. It is expected that the issue will be resolved by August 2026.
The special revision of electoral rolls is scheduled to take place in Assam over the next few months, ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The ECI has set January 1, 2026, as the qualifying date for inclusion in the voter list, with the final publication of the electoral roll slated for February 10, 2026. This revision comes after the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar assured a bespoke order for Assam, excluded from the nationwide SIR due to NRC linkages.
A key component of the special revision process will be house-to-house visits by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to conduct physical verification of the existing voter lists. These visits are scheduled to begin on November 22 and continue until December 20, covering all 29,656 polling stations across the state. The BLOs will verify against pre-filled registers instead of distributing fresh enumeration forms. If a voter is not found at home, BLOs will revisit up to three times before finalizing their report. The focus will be on purging multiple entries, marking deceased or permanently shifted voters, and enrolling eligible newcomers who will be 18 years old by the qualifying date. Form 7 will be used to remove the names of deceased individuals.
The Election Commission will also gather voter data digitally through an app to collect all necessary voter information, streamlining the process. The integrated draft roll will be released to the public on December 27, opening a window for claims and objections until January 22, 2026. Complaints can be submitted to the District Commissioner within 15 days of the draft rolls' publication, and unresolved matters can be escalated to the CEO.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the ECI's decision, stating that it will ensure "clean and updated electoral rolls" for all eligible citizens. He added that Assam will extend full cooperation to the Election Commission of India to complete the revision in a transparent and time-bound manner.
While enrollment will remain open until February next year, citizens are encouraged to apply early and take advantage of the SR. Based on current population figures, Assam may see around 1,826 additional polling stations. District-level scrutiny of these proposed stations is currently underway. The Assembly election dates may be announced after February.
