The Election Commission of India has launched a special revision of electoral rolls in Assam, marking a unique process tailored to the state's distinctive position following the National Register of Citizens exercise. This comprehensive verification drive will involve extensive house-to-house visits by election officials across the northeastern state.
What Makes Assam's Voter Revision Special?
Assam Chief Election Officer Anurag Goel emphasized that this revision process is specifically designed for Assam due to its "peculiar" circumstances as the only Indian state to have conducted the NRC process, though it remains incomplete. The state government had previously communicated to the ECI that Assam's unique position should be considered when framing timelines and eligibility documentation requirements.
The National Register of Citizens, published in 2019, excluded approximately 19.6 lakh individuals from the 3.3 crore applicants but has not yet received official notification from the Registrar General of India. The Supreme Court recently sought responses from concerned authorities regarding issuing national identity cards to those included in the list.
House-to-House Verification Process
The cornerstone of this special revision involves Booth Level Officers conducting physical verification through door-to-door visits across all 29,656 polling stations in Assam. This intensive exercise begins on November 22 and continues through December 20.
During these visits, BLOs will carry printed registers containing names of existing voters from each household. They will personally verify details with family heads and facilitate necessary form submissions for various scenarios:
- Form submission for voters who have passed away
- Updates for voters who have relocated to different constituencies
- Form 6 completion for new eligible voters with documentation showing family linkages
Officials have committed to minimum three visit attempts to households where residents are unavailable during initial visits, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
Timeline and Additional Measures
The verification process precedes several key milestones in the electoral roll preparation. The draft electoral roll will be published on December 27, followed by a claims and objections window open until January 22. The final electoral roll publication is scheduled for February 10, with state election notifications expected by late February.
Concurrently, polling station rationalization will occur, implementing ECI directives to limit voter numbers per station to 1,200 instead of the previous 1,500. This adjustment necessitates establishing an additional 1,826 polling stations throughout Assam.
Impact on Existing Voters and Special Categories
Chief Election Officer Goel assured that existing voters are unlikely to be affected by this exercise, as their inclusion in voter lists presumes valid ordinary residency status. This understanding extends to families displaced by recent eviction drives across the state.
However, evicted individuals must update their addresses using Form 8, whether they've relocated temporarily within the same district, moved to another constituency, or reside in camps. Failure to update addresses could potentially create voting complications.
The revision also addresses the status of 94,277 D-voters (Doubtful Voters) whose cases remain pending before Foreigners' Tribunals. These individuals cannot participate in elections until tribunals confirm their citizenship. Their details will be carried forward unchanged in the draft electoral roll, with modifications only occurring upon receipt of formal tribunal or court orders.
The special revision represents a balanced approach to ensuring electoral integrity while acknowledging Assam's unique demographic circumstances, setting the stage for upcoming state elections with updated and verified voter lists.
