Chennai, Jan 19 (NationPress) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced an extension for the deadline to submit claims and objections regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu until January 30, 2026. This extension offers eligible voters a chance to verify and amend their electoral information.

On Monday, Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu, Archana Patnaik, revealed that the original deadline for filing claims and objections had lapsed on January 18. However, after a comprehensive review of various factors, the Commission decided to prolong the deadline to enhance voter participation.

In an official statement, the Commission encouraged all eligible citizens to utilize this added time to submit claims for name inclusion, corrections to existing records, or objections to erroneous or duplicate entries in the electoral rolls.

Voters are reminded not to overlook this crucial opportunity to ensure their details are accurate as the electoral processes approach.

The SIR was initiated by the Election Commission in October 2025, with January 1, 2026 designated as the qualifying date to establish voter eligibility in the state.

As part of this initiative, draft electoral rolls were made public on December 19, 2025, and the timeline for filing claims and objections was initially set from December 19, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

According to the official release, the Commission invoked its authority under the proviso to Rule 12 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, to extend the deadline by nearly two weeks.

This decision was made to accommodate voters who might have faced challenges in completing the verification process within the original timeframe and to ensure that no eligible elector is excluded from the rolls due to procedural or logistical issues.

Election officials emphasized that the SIR is a vital process aimed at enhancing the accuracy and integrity of electoral rolls by eliminating ineligible entries, updating voter information, and facilitating the inclusion of newly eligible voters.

Citizens are able to file claims and objections through designated election offices and approved online platforms.

The extended deadline is anticipated to assist first-time voters, migrants, and those whose names were mistakenly omitted or contain inaccuracies, thereby bolstering the overall credibility of the electoral roll in advance of upcoming elections in the state.