Chennai: In an effort to ensure maximum inclusion in the electoral process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced a series of special voter registration camps across Tamil Nadu to enable eligible citizens to enrol in the electoral rolls or correct their details.
The announcement follows the publication of the draft electoral roll for the state on December 19, after the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
According to the Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Archana Patnaik, more than 97 lakh names were removed from the draft voter list during the revision exercise. Of these, around 66 lakh voters were identified as having shifted their place of residence. The remaining deletions were due to reasons such as duplication, death, or ineligibility.
Voters whose names were removed have been given a one-month window to re-enrol, with January 18 set as the final date for submitting applications.
In response to the large number of omissions and to ensure no eligible voter is left out, the Election Commission has announced a four-day special voter registration drive across the state.
The first phase of the special camp is being held on Saturday and Sunday, followed by another round on January 3 and January 4. These camps will be conducted at all polling stations across Tamil Nadu, covering approximately 75,000 booths.
During these special camps, eligible citizens can apply for inclusion of their names in the electoral roll by submitting Form 6. They can also apply for corrections in personal details or for the transposition of their names if they have shifted their residence within the constituency.
According to officials, 1,68,825 applications have already been received for inclusion of new voters since the publication of the draft roll. The Chief Electoral Officer has urged all eligible citizens, particularly those whose names were excluded from the draft list, to make full use of this opportunity. She emphasised that accurate and updated electoral rolls are crucial for ensuring free, fair, and inclusive elections.
Election officials will be present at all polling stations during the special camp days to assist applicants, verify documents, and facilitate the smooth processing of forms.
Citizens have also been encouraged to verify their details through the online voter portal and take corrective action before the final electoral roll is published.
(IANS)
