Telangana electoral roll revision: 78.3% voters re-enrol, draft on Aug 17

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Telangana has concluded its enumeration phase with 78.3% of existing voters successfully enrolling themselves, according to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer. The draft electoral rolls will now be published on August 17, offering voters an opportunity to check their details and file any claims or objections.

Against a total electorate of 3,38,26,448, as many as 2,64,86,214 electors filled enumeration forms either online or physically by the midnight of August 10, 2026, when the enumeration phase ended. The SIR was undertaken to clean up the electoral rolls by removing duplicate entries, shifts, and ineligible names while adding eligible first-time voters and those who had missed earlier registration drives.

The remaining 73,39,274 forms have been categorised as 'uncollectable'. This includes 45,18,961 electors who have permanently shifted from their registered addresses, 9,22,230 who are deceased, and 11,25,546 who were found absent or untraceable during the door-to-door verification. Additionally, 6,70,203 electors were found to have already enrolled themselves, and 1,02,294 forms fell under the 'others' category.

All uncollectable entries will be eliminated from the draft rolls to the extent possible, though the process allows affected voters to apply afresh. Those whose names have been removed, or who have shifted residences, can submit Form 6 for fresh enrolment. The final electoral rolls will be published on October 19, 2026, after the process of claims and objections is completed.

The revision is a key exercise for electoral integrity, ensuring that only eligible voters remain on the rolls. Officials have urged citizens to check their names in the draft when published and to use the opportunity to correct any errors or omissions. For first-time voters, enrolment remains open through Form 6, which can be filed online via the National Voters' Service Portal or at designated election offices.

With the draft rolls due in a week, the Election Commission's focus is on transparency and accessibility. The public can also contact the helpline or visit the Chief Electoral Officer's website for further information. The SIR is part of the ongoing effort to maintain accurate and up-to-date voter lists across the state.

The meticulous enumeration process involves booth-level officers visiting households, verifying residence and identity, and collecting forms from those who require updates. While the response rate of over 78% reflects public cooperation, the uncollectable categories highlight urban migration, aging population, and other realities that impact voter lists. The August 17 draft will give all stakeholders a chance to review and rectify discrepancies before the final rolls are sealed in October.