NRI Electoral Roll Update UAE – Expats Race to Complete Verification

NRI voter registration UAE is witnessing a major surge as thousands of Indian expats rush to verify and update their voter details ahead of India’s upcoming elections. Indian expatriates across the UAE are working quickly to update and verify their voter information as the second phase of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls continues. The Election Commission of India is carrying out this large-scale verification drive across 12 states and Union Territories, including Kerala and Karnataka, ahead of next year’s elections. The goal is to update voter records, remove fraudulent entries, and add new eligible voters.

Many UAE-based Indians are sending required documents—such as Aadhaar, passport copies, and previous voter IDs—to their families in India, while others are preparing for the next stage of verification on December 9. Dubai resident Asheem PK shared that he sent his documents immediately after the process began thanks to reminders from his family.

Indian social worker Muneer Berike described the SIR process as an important opportunity for NRIs to update or secure their voting rights. He explained that NRIs were not allowed to vote in the past, but after years of advocacy, registration for overseas electors began in 2011. Since then, Indian citizens living abroad have been able to enrol as voters, although they must travel to India to cast their vote in person.

The first phase of SIR focuses on verifying details of voters who were already listed previously. These individuals can submit their information either online or in person. The first draft of the updated voter list will be released on December 9.

UAE residents who are unsure of their voter status can check their names on the respective state election websites. Once the first draft is published, those who were not previously listed can apply to be added.

Muneer advised that UAE-based NRIs can visit the Election Commission’s Voter Services Portal and fill out Form 6A to register as overseas electors. Applicants will need to provide details such as their state, district, constituency, and the particulars of a close relative already listed as a voter. The application will be reviewed after December 9, but residents are encouraged to submit their forms immediately since the process takes only a few minutes.

Applicants must also specify their full address, reason for residing abroad, and their complete overseas address. Depending on the case, they may be asked to submit additional documents—up to 12 proofs including Aadhaar.

Although India maintains a unified voter roll, voters are categorized differently:

• Resident voters register using Form 6 and receive a voter ID card.
• NRI voters must use Form 6A, are listed as overseas electors, and do not receive a voter ID. They must present their passport when voting in India.

The final updated voter list will be published in February 2026. Indian community organizations in the UAE are preparing to set up help desks to assist confused or first-time NRI applicants. The Sharjah Indian Association has already requested permission from the Indian Consulate to establish support stations.

However, when contacted by Khaleej Times, the Indian Consulate did not confirm whether it will officially assist expats with the registration process.