ECI finally restores special summary revision of electoral rolls for Gen Z voters

New Delhi: Election Commission of India on Thursday announced the much-delayed special summary revision (SSR) of electoral rolls across 17 states and Union Territories, finally restoring and resuming a decades-old annual exercise that was stalled after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. SSR was a major flashpoint between the chief election commissioner and the two election commissioners, involving a legal opinion from the AG, besides studying previous court orders, as reported by ET on May 20, September 24 and October 3.

Annual SSR - in effect since 1958 and in keeping with section 21 of the Representation of People Act, 1950 - was paused after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls amid SIR that began in 2025, and is significantly late in 2026 as well, given that it is usually announced in May-June to ensure publication of refreshed electoral rolls.

This is significant as it ensures inclusion of the names of first-time voters in electoral rolls across states next January. ET reported how this was held back in at least 16 states/UTs impacted by the SSR pause.


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ECI on Thursday wrote to chief electoral officers of 17 states and UTs, announcing the resumption of SSR that will ensure registration of new voters on electoral rolls by January 4, 2027, in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, besides the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Punjab.

All of the above have already completed the contentious special intensive revision of electoral rolls.

While integrated draft electoral rolls will be published in these states and UTs on November 12, voters will have time until December 11 to file claims and objections, after which final rolls will be published on January 4.

ECI has stated that the SSR schedule for states and UTs currently undergoing or having recently concluded SIR - including Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi - as well as weather-sensitive regions of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh will be announced separately.

Also Read | EC announces Special Summary Revision of voters' list in 17 states amid SIR controversy

While Uttarakhand and Punjab have just about wrapped up SIR, they will undertake SSR - as required by law - ahead of assembly polls scheduled for early 2027.

SSR will ensure enrolment of 'unenrolled eligible citizens' as on 01.10.2026 besides 'prospective electors' eligible on 01.01.2027 and prospective electors eligible on three subsequent qualifying dates - 1st April, 1st July, 1st October, 2027, the poll panel has said.

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ECI has also introduced some more transparency and participation-linked changes to SSR 2027, sources said, bringing in provisions to provide soft copies of draft and final electoral rolls in 'readable PDF formats' to all recognised political parties. The parties will also receive 'addition, deletion and modification' supplements at the draft stage itself - not done in earlier SSRs.