Chennai residents can check whether their name is on the electoral roll on the Election Commission of India’s voter services portal, voters.eci.gov.in, or by calling the voter helpline on 1950. This year it is worth checking even if you voted before. Tamil Nadu’s rolls were rewritten during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) that began in October 2025, and more than 74 lakh names were removed by the time the final roll was published in February 2026.
No new statewide intensive revision is under way in Tamil Nadu as of 18 October 2026. When the Election Commission announced the third phase of SIR on 14 May 2026, it covered 16 states and three Union Territories. Tamil Nadu was not on the list, All India Radio News reported. You can still apply to enrol or make corrections at any time through the regular process described below.
What the SIR changed in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu was in Phase II of the SIR, which started on 27 October 2025 and covered nine states and three Union Territories. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) went door to door with enumeration forms. Electors who did not return a form, or who were found to have died, moved or been registered twice, were left off the draft roll. More than 97 lakh names were left off the draft roll, The Wire reported. Hearings before Electoral Registration Officers and fresh claims followed, and the Election Commission published the final roll for Tamil Nadu on 23 February 2026, All India Radio News reported. The final roll had about 5.67 crore electors, more than 74 lakh fewer than before the revision, The Statesman reported. That roll was used for the April 2026 Assembly election.
Official district-wise figures are published by the Chief Electoral Officer, Tamil Nadu, at elections.tn.gov.in. If you voted in earlier elections but did not fill in an enumeration form in late 2025, check your entry now.
How to check your name
- Go to voters.eci.gov.in and choose the electoral roll search.
- Search by your EPIC (voter ID) number, or by name, age, relative’s name and district. You can also search by the mobile number linked to your registration.
- Note your part number and serial number. They tell you which polling booth you are attached to.
- If you cannot find your entry, call 1950 or ask your BLO. In Chennai, the district election officer is the Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner, and each Assembly constituency has an Electoral Registration Officer.
The Voter Helpline mobile app offers the same search and forms.
Which form you need
| What you want to do | Form |
|---|---|
| Enrol as a new voter, or re-enrol if your name was deleted | Form 6 |
| Correct your name, age, photo or other details, shift to a new address, or get a replacement EPIC | Form 8 |
| Object to a wrong entry, or ask for a name to be deleted (for example, a family member who has died) | Form 7 |
| Overseas Indian elector | Form 6A |
All of these can be filed online on the voter portal or app, or on paper with your BLO or the Electoral Registration Officer’s office. You will need proof of age and proof of your current address in Chennai, along with a recent photograph. After you apply, you get a reference number that you can use to track the application online.
Practical tips for Chennai residents
- Moved within the city? If you moved from, say, Mylapore to Velachery, use Form 8 to shift your entry. Do not file a fresh Form 6, which can create a duplicate entry that may later be deleted.
- Turning 18: You can apply in advance. Since 2022 there have been four qualifying dates each year, 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October, so you do not have to wait for an annual cycle.
- Tenants and hostel residents: A rental agreement or a recent utility bill in your name is commonly used as address proof. Check the current list of accepted documents on the portal.
- Know your constituency: Many Chennai addresses fall in seats that belong to neighbouring districts, such as Ambattur, Madhavaram, Shozhinganallur or Tambaram. Your roll entry shows which one is yours.
By-elections and the wider debate
Seven Assembly seats fell vacant after the 2026 election. Two of them, Madurantakam and Dharapuram, went to by-elections on 6 October. The Election Commission had not announced polls for the other five while election petitions were pending, UNI reported in September. None of the seven is in Chennai district.
The SIR process has been debated nationally since 2025. Opposition parties and some civil society groups have questioned its scale and deletions, and the Election Commission has defended it as a way to clean up the rolls. For your own entry, what matters is the official roll on the ECI and CEO Tamil Nadu websites.
Quick answers
Is SIR happening in Tamil Nadu now?
No. Tamil Nadu was covered in Phase II in 2025-26. The third phase announced in May 2026 does not include the state.
How many voters are on Tamil Nadu’s roll?
About 5.67 crore in the final roll published on 23 February 2026.
My name was deleted. What should I do?
Apply afresh using Form 6 with age and address proof, online or through your BLO.
What is the voter helpline number?
1950. You can also use the Voter Helpline app.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- ECI announces SIR Phase III across 16 states and three UTs (All India Radio News)
- Voters’ Service Portal (Election Commission of India)
- Chief Electoral Officer, Tamil Nadu
- Madras HC extends stay barring ECI from holding bypolls for 5 TN seats (UNI)
- ECI publishes final electoral rolls for State of Tamil Nadu, 23 Feb 2026 (All India Radio News)
- 5.67 crore total voters in Tamil Nadu after SIR; over 74 lakh names deleted (The Statesman)
- Over 97 lakh voters deleted in Tamil Nadu draft rolls (The Wire)
