EC announces SSR schedule to update electoral rolls in 17 states, draft list on November 12

The Election Commission of India has announced a Special Summary Revision (SSR) programme. The aim of the exercise is to update electoral rolls. It will be carried out in 17 states, including Union Territories, and in 5 states where Assembly elections are due in 2027. It has been stated that SSR will be carried out in states where the SIR process has already been completed.

The programme has been announced at a time when the political climate in the country has heated up against the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Congress and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) have raised questions about the Commission's working. The Opposition alleges that voters' names are being deleted through the SIR process. Allegations of names being cut had also been made earlier in West Bengal.

According to the schedule announced by the Commission, the process will begin in November 2026. The reorganisation of polling stations will take place on November 2, 2026. The draft electoral roll will be published on November 12, 2026. Claims and objections can then be filed between November 12 and December 11, 2026. Action on them is to be completed by December 28, 2026. The final electoral roll will be published on January 4, 2027. January 1, 2027 has been fixed as the qualifying date for the process.

Registration of new voters, corrections needed because of a change of address, and the deletion, as per rules, of the names of ineligible or deceased voters come under this process. The procedure for preparing and amending electoral rolls is laid down by the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and the voter registration rules. These rolls are required for Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

During this period, voters will be able to check whether their name is correctly entered. Eligible citizens whose names are not on the roll can apply for registration. If there is an error in a name or other details, a correction can be sought. Entries of voters who have died or whose names are to be deleted as per rules will be verified. Entries of voters who have moved from one place to another will also be acted upon as per rules.

Once the draft roll is published, it is important for citizens to check their name and details carefully. If any error is found, a claim or objection can be filed with the concerned officials within the stipulated period. With SSR announced while the dispute over SIR continues, everyone's attention is on this exercise. Both the Opposition's allegation that names are being deleted and the Commission's process of updating the rolls are under discussion.