AIADMK begins statewide exercise during Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision

A statewide consultation with booth-level agents has been initiated by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in connection with the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across Tamil Nadu. The exercise has been taken up as part of the party’s internal effort to identify genuine voters and report irregularities during the revision process conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

ECI’s Intensive Drive to Clean Voter Rolls Underway Across Tamil Nadu

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has been ordered by the Election Commission of India and is being supervised by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Tamil Nadu. The revision began on November 4, 2025, and is being implemented through a multi-tier verification system involving Booth Level Officers (BLOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and District Election Officers (DEOs) under the oversight of the CEO.

This special exercise has been taken up following several representations regarding duplicate, deceased, and migrated voter entries in the rolls. The proposal for such an intensive revision was recommended by the CEO, Tamil Nadu, to the ECI to ensure an accurate and transparent voter list before the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections.

Party Begins Ground-Level Consultations to Identify Genuine Voters

Party sources stated that the AIADMK has appointed district in-charges to coordinate with booth-level agents (BLAs) across all districts. These agents are being tasked with verifying voter lists at the polling station level and identifying names suspected to be bogus or duplicated.

AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of Opposition, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who was officially recognized by the Election Commission of India as the party’s chief in April 2023, has directed former ministers and senior office-bearers to assist in the review process. The instructions have been issued to ensure that genuine voters remain on the rolls and that the party’s ground network actively participates in maintaining voter accuracy.

Dead and Duplicate Entries Found in Field Survey, Party Reports to Leadership

In Nagapattinam, AIADMK’s Joint Secretary of the Advocate Wing, R.M. Babu Murugavel, reported that a field review conducted by the party found 1,680 names of deceased persons and 49 cases of duplicate registrations still present in the electoral list. “If such errors exist in one district, similar issues may be widespread across Tamil Nadu,” he said. The findings were submitted to the party leadership for review and necessary representation to local election authorities.

Multi-Tier Verification System to Prevent Manipulations and Ensure Transparency

According to election officials, the SIR is being conducted under a multi-level structure designed to prevent discrepancies or politically motivated manipulations. The process involves:

• Field verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs);

• Scrutiny by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) at the constituency level;

• Oversight by District Election Officers (DEOs); and

• Final supervision by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and the Election Commission of India.

Experts have pointed out that most voter list errors or manipulations, if any, tend to occur at the lower administrative levels, particularly during field verification or data entry. Hence, emphasis has been placed on cross-verification and public participation to strengthen transparency and accountability.

Public Verification and Transparency Measures in Place

To ensure public scrutiny, the ECI has mandated that draft electoral rolls be displayed at all polling stations from December 23, 2025, allowing citizens to check, object, or request corrections. The claims and objections period will continue until January 15, 2026, and the final electoral rolls are scheduled for publication on January 20, 2026.

Citizens have also been encouraged to verify their details through the Voter Helpline App, the National Voters’ Service Portal (NVSP), or by visiting local election offices. No deletion or addition is permitted without documentary proof and field verification by designated officers.

ECI Deploys Observers, Monitors Field Verification Closely

Daily progress reports are being compiled by BLOs and reviewed at district and state levels. The Election Commission of India has deployed special observers in sensitive districts to monitor the process, ensure uniformity in implementation, and prevent partisan interference. The ECI has clarified that the current SIR is part of a nationwide effort to enhance electoral integrity and strengthen the reliability of voter databases before major elections.

Final Electoral Rolls to Be Published on January 20, 2026, Ahead of Assembly Polls

The Special Intensive Revision is being viewed as a crucial step in restoring public confidence in the electoral process. Once completed, the updated rolls are expected to serve as the basis for all upcoming elections in the state. Officials have expressed confidence that the multi-tier verification and public participation measures will ensure a fair, error-free, and transparent electoral roll for Tamil Nadu.