TheInterviewTimes.com | February 23, 2026 | 12:17 PM IST | New Delhi
Tamil Nadu final voter list 2026 released on February 23 after SIR process deletes 97.38 lakh names. Supreme Court intervention delays rollout. Check district-wise details, political reactions from DMK and AIADMK ahead of assembly elections.
Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik released the state’s final electoral roll on February 23, 2026, capping the contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The updated list shows a reduced electorate of about 5.65 crore voters, down from 6.41 crore before the revision began in October 2025. This marks a net drop of nearly 76 lakh names after accounting for deletions and additions during claims period.
District-wise details were announced at 2:30 p.m., with lists available online and at local offices from 10 a.m..
SIR Process and Voter Deletions
The SIR, launched to clean the voter database, deleted 97,37,831 names from the draft roll published on December 19, 2025, bringing the draft total to 5.43 crore voters. Breakdown includes 26.95 lakh deceased voters, 66.44 lakh shifted or absent, and 3.98 lakh duplicates.
Urban areas saw heavy cuts: Chennai lost 14.25 lakh (from 40.04 lakh to 25.79 lakh), Coimbatore 6.5 lakh (to 25.74 lakh), and Chengalpattu 7 lakh. Claims period until January 30 drew 34.75 lakh physical forms (17.10 lakh inclusions via Form 6, 1.84 lakh deletions via Form 7, 5.51 lakh corrections via Form 8) plus 10.28 lakh online.
Supreme Court Role and Delay
Originally due February 17, release delayed per Supreme Court order on January 29 by CJI Surya Kant’s bench. Court mandated display of 1.16 crore “logical discrepancy” names at offices for verification, giving 10 extra days. This addressed transparency concerns in deletions. Petition came from ruling DMK, which called SIR hasty post prior revision.
Political Reactions
DMK, under CM M.K. Stalin, termed SIR “unconstitutional,” fearing disenfranchisement of marginalized voters. AIADMK’s Edappadi Palaniswami hailed it as exposing “fake votes,” urging Form 6 filings. BJP supported cleanup for fair polls. Opposition sees deletions hitting DMK strongholds; ruling party alleges bias.
Implications for 2026 Assembly Elections
With polls due April-May 2026, smaller rolls (5.65 crore final) could shift dynamics in urban seats. Over 44 lakh deleted voters did not reapply, per estimates. Voters check names via erolls.tn.gov.in or local BLOs. Exercise boosts roll accuracy but fuels distrust ahead of high-stakes polls.
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