EC sounds poll roll overhaul alert nationwide, sets Jan 2026 deadline for new voters

In a move set to reshape voter eligibility across the country, the Election Commission (EC) has instructed all states and Union Territories to gear up for an intensive revision of electoral rolls — a nationwide exercise aimed at updating and verifying voter data ahead of key Assembly elections next year.

This sweeping directive, issued to Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) on July 5, comes just a day after the EC’s controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar came under legal scrutiny in the Supreme Court. The new nationwide exercise, The Sunday Express has learned, will use January 1, 2026 as the qualifying date — meaning anyone who turns 18 by then should be added to the rolls.

While the final rollout timeline for the rest of the country is still pending, the EC’s letter marks the formal beginning of what could be the most rigorous voter verification drive in years.

Roll revision echoes Bihar model, 2003 remains key

The EC’s Bihar guidelines — where 2003 was designated as the base year to verify existing voters’ citizenship — may serve as a blueprint for other states. In Bihar, names found in the 2003 rolls are presumed to belong to Indian citizens unless proven otherwise. Those added later — nearly 2.93 crore individuals — must now submit official documents to re-establish their eligibility.

Officials familiar with the matter said similar benchmarks could be used elsewhere. For instance, Delhi’s last intensive roll revision was conducted in 2008, and that year could now serve as its cut-off.

Massive groundwork underway

Citing its June 24 order, the Commission has instructed all states to complete critical “pre-revision activities” before the actual enumeration begins. These steps include:

• Rationalization of polling stations, ensuring no booth has more than 1,200 electors;
• Filling up all vacant field positions, from Block Level Officers (BLOs) to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Assistant EROs, and supervisors;
• Comprehensive training of field staff for the roll revision exercise.

The urgency of these directives is underscored by upcoming Assembly polls in politically sensitive states such as Assam (BJP-ruled), West Bengal (TMC), Tamil Nadu (DMK), and Kerala (Left) — all slated for 2025. The Union Territory of Puducherry will also go to polls next year.

SC flags risk of disenfranchisement

The EC’s move coincides with a legal challenge in the Supreme Court, which has raised questions over the timing and execution of the SIR in Bihar. During the July 10 hearing, Justice Joymalya Bagchi voiced concern about the possibility of legitimate voters being removed from the rolls close to elections — even as he acknowledged the need for roll cleansing.

Although the top court stopped short of halting the EC’s exercise in Bihar, it urged the Commission to consider expanding its list of acceptable documents — including Aadhaar, voter ID, and ration cards — for verifying voter eligibility.

A second scrutiny for millions

The EC’s current 11-document requirement has already sparked confusion and apprehension in Bihar. Critics argue that the move unfairly targets those who have been voting for years but now face the burden of re-proving their citizenship.

If the same approach is extended nationally, millions of voters across India — especially those added after the last roll revisions — may be forced to undergo a second round of scrutiny to remain on the list.

As the EC moves to implement this nationwide overhaul, its balancing act — between safeguarding the sanctity of the electoral rolls and protecting citizens’ voting rights — is set to face its toughest test yet.

A sweeping overhaul of voter roll verification in Bihar has triggered widespread anxiety, as the Election Commission of India (ECI) excludes commonly held documents — Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration cards — from its new list of accepted citizenship proof.

The list, consisting of 11 documents, includes identity cards issued to government employees or pensioners, certificates from banks, LIC, or post offices dated before July 1, 1987, birth or education certificates, passports, caste and residence certificates, and documents like the National Register of Citizens (NRC) where applicable. Also included are land or house allotment certificates and family registers issued by state authorities.

But the stark omission of Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration cards — the most widely held documents in Bihar — has left large swathes of the population, particularly among the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) and minorities, in a state of uncertainty. The move has prompted concerns of an "NRC through the backdoor,” echoing fears about disenfranchisement and targeting of vulnerable groups.

From Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s home constituency in Nalanda to RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Raghopur in Vaishali, and across the Seemanchal belt, voters are expressing confusion and alarm. With only a fraction of the population possessing the newly listed documents, the EC’s decision has raised pressing questions about accessibility and intent.

However, three new documents — Aadhaar, Voter ID, and ration cards — were recently suggested by the EC for possible inclusion in the verification process, offering a sliver of relief. Pertinently, these documents are nearly universal in Bihar: Aadhaar and Voter ID are widespread, while ration cards cover nearly two-thirds of the population.

The EC has justified its push for an intensive roll revision citing “significant change” in electoral rolls due to rapid urbanisation, migration for jobs and education, and duplicate entries from voters registering at multiple locations. Officials say these shifts demand a rigorous clean-up to ensure transparency.

Political pressure has also played a role. The EC cited persistent complaints, including recent allegations from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi about manipulation in Maharashtra’s voter rolls, to explain its renewed urgency.

While such roll revisions aren’t new — earlier exercises date back to the 1950s — the current one, launched June 24, marks a historic shift. This is the first time voters must prove citizenship even if they’re already on the rolls. It also breaks with past precedent by discarding the longstanding principle of treating the existing electoral roll as sacrosanct.

For Bihar’s voters, the stakes are high. As one official admitted, this revision may be less about routine clean-up — and more about redefining who gets to vote.