Manipur Publishes Final Electoral Roll Amid Heightened Tensions Over NRC and Census
IMPHAL — The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Manipur officially published the final photo electoral rolls for all 60 assembly constituencies on Sunday. The updated rolls reflect a total voter base of 19,60,620, a significant development that comes at a time when the state is deeply divided over the implementation of a National Register of Citizens (NRC) versus the upcoming national Census.
According to the data released, the electorate consists of 9,53,350 male voters, 10,06,962 female voters, and 308 individuals from the third gender. The state currently maintains an Elector Population (EP) ratio of 51.99 and a commendable gender ratio of 1056, indicating robust female participation in the electoral process.
A Rigorous Revision Process
The final publication follows a meticulous revision cycle that began with the release of the draft roll on July 5, 2026. Since then, the state has witnessed a net increase of 26,221 voters. This change was the result of 56,871 new additions countered by the removal of 30,650 names from the draft list.
The exercise was characterized by a high degree of scrutiny. Election officials had to address significant administrative challenges, including the non-receipt of enumeration forms from 1,58,677 individuals out of an initial pool of over 2 million. These cases were subsequently classified under categories such as “absent,” “shifted,” “deceased,” or “duplicate.” Furthermore, authorities issued over 1.2 million notices to resolve discrepancies and verify the status of unmapped or questionable entries, ultimately leading to the removal of 26,362 ineligible names. Additionally, 20,819 service electors have been integrated into the final registry.
The NRC vs. Census Stand-off
While the electoral roll update proceeded according to the mandates of the Election Commission of India, the political atmosphere in Manipur remains volatile. The state government, with the unanimous backing of all political parties in the legislative assembly, has repeatedly pressured the Union government to prioritize the implementation of an NRC in Manipur before initiating the next Census.
Following a high-level meeting led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a gazette notification on September 5, 2026, officially deferring the Census operations for Manipur. The notification, signed by Registrar General Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, amended existing rules to explicitly exclude Manipur from the upcoming houselisting operations until further orders.
Divergent Views on Demographics
The call for an NRC—often tied to the year 1951 as a base year for citizenship verification—has gained overwhelming support from various civil society organizations. However, the move is not without fierce opposition. The Kuki-Zo community, represented by apex bodies such as the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), has expressed strong reservations.
“We do not object to the periodic nature of the Census, as it is a standard government procedure,” noted KZC spokesperson Ginza Vualzong. “However, the push for an NRC using 1951 as a base year is deeply troubling for our community and introduces a dangerous level of instability.”
As Manipur navigates this sensitive demographic landscape, the publication of the final electoral roll serves as a temporary milestone, even as the broader debate regarding citizenship, identity, and the state’s future census roadmap continues to dominate the discourse.
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