Manipur draft electoral rolls 2026: Women outnumber men at 9.93 lakh
Synopsis
Manipur's draft electoral rolls reveal a gender ratio of 1,057 — women voters outnumbering men by over 53,000 — well above the national average. With 19.34 lakh total electors, 85 new polling stations, and a claims window open until 4 August, the state's electoral machinery is gearing up for a final roll publication on 6 September 2026.
Key Takeaways
Manipur's draft electoral rolls published on 5 July 2026 show 19,34,399 total registered voters.
Women voters (9,93,660) outnumber men ( 9,40,446 ), with 293 third-gender electors enrolled.
The gender ratio stands at 1,057 — significantly above the national average.
1,58,677 electors (7.58%) were excluded, including 43,000 deaths, 34,740 untraceable, and 72,473 permanently shifted.
85 new polling stations added, bringing the state total to 3,041 .
Claims and objections period runs from 5 July to 4 August 2026 ; final rolls due on 6 September 2026 .
Manipur's draft electoral rolls, published on Sunday, 5 July 2026 following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), show women voters once again outnumbering men — a trend that underscores the state's distinctive demographic profile in the country's electoral landscape. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Arun Kumar Sinha confirmed that with 1 July 2026 as the qualifying date, the state now has 19,34,399 registered voters.
Gender Breakdown of Registered Voters
Of the total electorate, 9,93,660 are women, 9,40,446 are men, and 293 are third-gender electors. The resulting gender ratio of 1,057 women per 1,000 men in the draft rolls is significantly higher than the national average, according to the CEO. Notably, 20,442 voters in the 18–19 age group have been newly enrolled in this revision cycle.
Exclusions and Deletions After Revision
A total of 1,58,677 electors — accounting for 7.58% of the electorate — were excluded during the revision process. Of these, 43,000 electors (2.05%) were removed due to death; 34,740 (1.66%) were untraceable or absent; and 72,473 (3.46%) had permanently shifted out of their registered constituencies. Other reasons accounted for the remainder.
Polling Infrastructure Expanded
With the creation of 85 new polling stations, Manipur's total now stands at 3,041. The SIR was executed through a coordinated network involving 60 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), 84 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), 317 BLO Supervisors, and 2,956 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) deployed across all 16 districts.
Political Party Participation
Field representatives of all 10 recognised political parties actively participated in the exercise. A total of 6,363 Booth Level Agents (BLAs) were appointed by these parties — a sharp rise from just 5,003 BLAs at the start of the SIR process. CEO Sinha said this increase 'reflects the active participation of political parties and their representatives in this important electoral exercise.'
Claims, Objections and Final Roll Publication
A claims and objections window runs from 5 July to 4 August 2026, during which any elector or recognised political party may file for inclusion of eligible voters or seek deletion of ineligible names. The primary objective, according to the CEO, is to ensure no voter who attained the age of 18 years on or before 1 July 2026 is left out. The final electoral rolls are scheduled for publication on 6 September 2026.
Point of View
057 in the draft rolls, against a national average that trails it, suggests women are not just enrolled but are being actively tracked through the BLO network. The sharp jump in Booth Level Agents from 5,003 to 6,363 is also worth watching: it indicates parties are investing in ground-level electoral intelligence ahead of what could be a consequential election cycle in a conflict-affected state. The real test will be whether the final rolls on 6 September reflect genuine inclusion of the 18–19 age cohort, or whether the claims window becomes a battleground for selective deletions.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many registered voters does Manipur have in the 2026 draft electoral rolls?
Manipur has 19,34,399 registered voters in the 2026 draft electoral rolls, with 1 July 2026 as the qualifying date. This includes 9,93,660 women, 9,40,446 men, and 293 third-gender electors.
Why do women outnumber men in Manipur's electoral rolls?
Manipur has consistently recorded more women voters than men in its electoral rolls, a trend reflected again in the 2026 draft. The state's gender ratio of 1,057 in the rolls is significantly above the national average, according to Chief Electoral Officer Arun Kumar Sinha, though no single administrative reason has been cited for the trend.
When will Manipur's final electoral rolls be published?
The final electoral rolls will be published on 6 September 2026, following the completion of the claims and objections process. The claims window runs from 5 July to 4 August 2026.
How many electors were removed from Manipur's electoral rolls in the 2026 revision?
A total of 1,58,677 electors — 7.58% of the electorate — were excluded during the Special Intensive Revision. Removals included 43,000 deaths, 34,740 untraceable or absent voters, and 72,473 who had permanently shifted.
What is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Manipur?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a comprehensive electoral roll update exercise conducted by the Election Commission machinery. In Manipur's 2026 cycle, it involved house-to-house visits by 2,956 Booth Level Officers across all 16 districts to verify, add, and remove voter entries ahead of the draft roll publication.
