Election Commission Extends Voter Roll Revision Deadlines Following Supreme Court Hearing

NEW DELHI — The Election Commission on Thursday extended deadlines for filing claims and objections during the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Delhi and Maharashtra, while also expanding processing windows across four other states.

The decision followed a Supreme Court hearing a day prior concerning the voter roll revision in the national capital, during which the bench asked the poll panel to consider extending the original October 30 deadline. Under the revised schedule, the window for filing claims and objections in Delhi is extended until November 25. In Maharashtra, where the deadline previously closed on October 26, the period has been reopened until November 13.

The revisions form part of a broader special intensive electoral roll exercise spanning 19 states and Union Territories. The initiative began with a first phase in Bihar in 2025, followed by a second phase covering 12 states and Union Territories through late 2025 and the first half of 2026.

The extensive roll revisions have resulted in large-scale deletions from draft voter lists. In Maharashtra, the names of more than two crore persons were removed in August, accounting for 21.1% of the state’s previous voter base. In Delhi, 47.7 lakh names were deleted, representing 33% of the Union Territory’s electorate.

The exercise has drawn broader administrative fallout. In Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states, authorities have cited the special intensive revision to deny ration cards to individuals eliminated from the rolls, while police in certain cases have blocked the renewal of their passports.

In May, the Supreme Court upheld the legality of the revision process, ruling that the administrative exercise does not empower the Election Commission to determine whether an individual holds Indian citizenship.

Alongside Delhi and Maharashtra, the Election Commission expanded processing windows for claims and objections in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, and Nagaland. The disposal window for claims and objections now extends until November 20 in Andhra Pradesh and Haryana, November 25 in Nagaland, November 26 in Telangana, November 25 in Maharashtra, and December 15 in Delhi.

Following the adjusted timelines, final voter lists will be published on November 30 for Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Haryana, and Nagaland. The final electoral roll for Delhi is scheduled for publication on December 22.