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Maharashtra Extends Deadline for Electoral Roll Claims Amid Surge in Voter Applications
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Extension of Claims and Objections Deadline
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has moved the deadline for filing claims and objections to Maharashtra’s draft electoral roll to October 26, 2026. The notice stage and disposal of all claims will be completed by November 10, 2026, with the final roll slated for publication on November 16, 2026. The draft voter list was released on August 31, 2026.
Background of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Exercise
The SIR programme, announced on May 14, 2026, is being carried out in 19 states and Union Territories, including Maharashtra, to remove deceased voters, duplicate entries, and permanently shifted residents.
Voter Participation and Application Statistics
- Between August 31 and October 11, 2026, 8.33 lakh new-voter applications (Form 6) were submitted in Maharashtra.
- Pune led submissions with 68,764 applications, followed by Thane (58,143) and Mumbai Suburban (48,861).
- 25,661 Form 7 objections were filed, about 0.03 % of the electorate. Thane recorded the most Form 7 filings (2,173); Mumbai Suburban had the highest number of Form 8 applications (43,535).
Official Statements & Responses
- Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam said the deadline extension gives officials more time to process applications before the November 10 cut-off.
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis posted on X that voters should verify their details, submit inclusion requests, correct errors, or raise objections before October 26.
- A group of 124 former IAS, IFS and allied-service officers defended the SIR exercise, noting that accurate rolls prevent impersonation and that safeguards such as polling agents, sealed EVMs and VVPAT are in place.
Measures to Curb Bulk Form 7 Objections
The ECI limited each elector to a maximum of 10 Form 7 applications during the claims period, with a cap of five per month. Online filings are restricted to six at a time. The commission cited “bulk objections on unsubstantiated grounds” as a source of inconvenience and staff overload.
The cap follows reports of alleged misuse in other states, including an October 1 allegation in Telangana where a BJP booth-level agent filed more than 30 Form 7 applications to delete members of a single Muslim family. Similar concerns were raised in Karnataka and Rajasthan. The ECI instructed Electoral Registration Officers to reject forms lacking the objector’s original signature or containing incomplete details and to provide a hearing to the person whose name is challenged. False complaints may be penalised under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
Why It Matters
Extending the filing deadline and tightening Form 7 limits aim to balance citizen access to correct the roll with preventing abusive bulk objections that could delay updates. Accurate rolls are essential for free and fair elections, reducing opportunities for impersonation, duplicate voting, or wrongful exclusion.
What’s Next
The ECI will process claims and objections through November 10, 2026, after which the finalized electoral roll will be released on November 16, 2026. Voters are encouraged to review the draft roll promptly and use the extended window to address any discrepancies.