Mon Feb 23 17:01:51 UTC 2026: ### Headline: Tamil Nadu Finalizes 2026 Electoral Roll, Purging Nearly 70 Lakh Ineligible Voters

The Story:
Tamil Nadu has released its final electoral roll for the 2026 elections following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) conducted between October 27, 2025, and February 23, 2026. The exercise, overseen by the Election Commission of India, resulted in the deletion of approximately 70 lakh names and the addition of over 27 lakh new voters. The final roll lists 5,67,07,380 electors across the state.

The revised electorate comprises 2,77,38,925 men, 2,89,60,838 women, and 7,617 third-gender voters. Women continue to outnumber men, a demographic trend that has influenced the state’s political dynamics in recent elections. The Chief Electoral Officer has urged voters to verify their details and utilize the continuous updation period for any inclusions, corrections, or deletions.

Key Points:

  • The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) took place from October 27, 2025, to February 23, 2026.
  • Approximately 70 lakh names were deleted from the electoral roll.
  • More than 27 lakh new voters were added.
  • The final electoral roll lists 5,67,07,380 electors.
  • Women outnumber men on the voter rolls: 2,89,60,838 women compared to 2,77,38,925 men.
  • Shozhinganallur has the highest number of electors (5,36,991).
  • Harbour constituency has the lowest number of electors (1,16,896).

Key Takeaways:

  • The large-scale deletion of voters suggests a significant effort to clean up the electoral roll, removing potential for fraud or inaccuracies.
  • The increase in new voters indicates a growing and evolving electorate, particularly among first-time voters aged 18-19.
  • The consistent trend of women outnumbering men in the electorate underscores the importance of addressing women’s issues in Tamil Nadu politics.
  • The concentration of voters in suburban constituencies like Shozhinganallur reflects urban expansion and demographic shifts within the state.
  • The timing of the final roll release and the commencement of “continuous updation” ensures voters have ample opportunity to correct any discrepancies before the 2026 elections.

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