Election Commission Sets 7-Day Deadline— The Election Commission of India (ECI) has set in motion a time-bound roadmap for West Bengal’s electoral groundwork, directing the state’s chief electoral officer to begin Special Summary and Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls within seven days. The exercise, a precursor to the 2026 Assembly elections, aims to clean the voter list, identify discrepancies, and ensure inclusion of all eligible voters across Bengal’s 42 Lok Sabha and 294 Assembly constituencies.
Officials confirmed that the Commission has fixed October 16, 2025, as the official start date for fieldwork across all districts. Booth-level officers (BLOs) are to conduct door-to-door verification, while district election officers have been tasked with micro-monitoring every stage of the process.
The move follows the Election Commission’s country-wide strategy to enhance voter accuracy and transparency after reports of duplicate, deceased, and migrated voters in several states. West Bengal, with its politically charged climate and history of disputed rolls, has been marked for special focus.
Seven Days to Set the Ground: Commission’s Firm Timeline
According to senior officials, the ECI’s directive was issued to ensure that preparatory work — including appointment of additional BLOs, training sessions, and the printing of new Form-6 and Form-8 (for addition, correction, or deletion) — must begin within seven days from the date of notification.
District magistrates and sub-divisional officers have been instructed to finish logistical groundwork by October 15, including the identification of revision centres, distribution of electoral materials, and creation of grievance counters.
“The Commission has made it clear that Bengal must start the ground process on time. Every booth-level officer will receive fresh training, and voter outreach will begin simultaneously,” a senior ECI official said.
The drive is officially termed a “Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls with Reference to January 1, 2026, as the Qualifying Date.” This means all citizens who turn 18 by that date are eligible to enroll in the updated list.
The final electoral rolls are scheduled to be published by January 10, 2026.
More information about ECI’s national SIR programme can be found on the official Election Commission website.
Context: Bengal’s Political Terrain and the Imperative for Accuracy
West Bengal’s political climate has long made electoral rolls a flashpoint of contestation. From allegations of fake voters to claims of politically motivated deletions, the voter list has often mirrored the state’s polarised politics.
During the 2021 Assembly elections, opposition parties had raised concerns about “bogus voters” and “partisan manipulation” of electoral lists, while the ruling Trinamool Congress accused the Election Commission of siding with the opposition in its rectification drives.
With the 2026 elections drawing closer, the Commission’s latest move is being seen as an attempt to tighten transparency, restore voter confidence, and reduce room for dispute.
Political analyst Biswanath Chakraborty of Rabindra Bharati University noted that Bengal’s voter base has expanded rapidly since 2011, but periodic migrations and deaths have created significant data mismatches.
“The voter list is not just a bureaucratic ledger — it’s a political battleground. The ECI’s insistence on a time-bound SIR shows it wants to minimize controversies before 2026,” Chakraborty said.
Inside the Exercise: How the Special Intensive Revision Works
The Election Commission’s SIR follows a multi-layered, ground-verified approach to ensure the rolls’ credibility.
Step 1: BLO Training and Enumeration
Booth Level Officers — the backbone of India’s electoral roll management — are trained to physically visit each household in their jurisdiction. Their mandate includes:
- Verifying each voter’s residence and identity.
- Recording new applications of 18+ citizens.
- Collecting forms for deletion of deceased or migrated voters.
- Checking gender and age mismatches in existing records.
Training modules, prepared by the ECI, emphasise digital entry through the ERONet (Electoral Roll Management Network) portal and the Voter Helpline App.
Step 2: Draft Publication of Rolls
A draft roll will be released in early November 2025. Citizens will have one month to submit objections, request corrections, or seek inclusions.
Public inspection booths will be set up in schools, colleges, and panchayat offices. Volunteers from the National Service Scheme (NSS) and local NGOs may be roped in to help illiterate voters fill forms.
Step 3: Claims and Objections
Between November and December, all claims and objections will be adjudicated by designated officers under Section 22 and 23 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. Hearings will be scheduled publicly, and applicants notified via SMS and postal mail.
Step 4: Final Publication
After thorough verification and digital syncing, the final electoral roll will be published on January 10, 2026, simultaneously in physical and online form. Voters can download their EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) digitally from the Voter Portal.
Election Commission Sets 7-Day Deadline: Key Instructions for Bengal’s Districts
The Election Commission’s order includes 16 administrative instructions tailored for Bengal’s 23 districts and 294 Assembly segments.
Among the most crucial directives:
- Verification of DSE (Deceased/Shifted/Error) Cases: Each BLO must submit daily data on deaths and migrated voters verified by local authorities.
- Gender Ratio Monitoring: District election officers are to analyse the gender ratio at each polling booth; any anomaly beyond 10% deviation from census averages must be flagged.
- Urban-Rural Migration Review: The Commission has directed special scrutiny in districts like North 24-Parganas, Howrah, and Jalpaiguri, which have reported significant population shifts.
- Inclusion of Transgender Voters: Every district must ensure inclusivity, with special enrollment camps conducted in coordination with community groups.
- Youth Enrollment Drives: Colleges and universities are to host “New Voter Camps” under the SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) programme.
“Bengal has a high youth demographic, and many 18-year-olds remain unenrolled. This revision is as much a civic inclusion drive as a technical one,” said Ajay Vora, a joint secretary in the ECI’s voter education division.
Challenges: Geography, Politics, and Ground Realities
1. Terrain and Connectivity
Hill districts like Darjeeling and Kalimpong pose logistical challenges for BLOs due to terrain and weather. Many polling stations lie in remote valleys where communication networks are weak.
2. Political Interference
Political parties often accuse one another of influencing voter verification. Allegations of “ghost voters”, especially in border districts like Cooch Behar and Malda, remain persistent. The ECI has directed strict vigilance and deployment of micro-observers to prevent manipulation.
3. Documentation and Literacy
In remote areas, lack of valid ID or proof of residence continues to hinder registration. The ECI has instructed local bodies to assist citizens in document procurement, emphasizing inclusivity over bureaucracy.
4. Natural Calamities
The recent floods and landslides in North Bengal have displaced thousands. Officials worry that without immediate field mapping, many residents could lose voting rights due to address disruptions. Relief camps are being tagged with temporary voter enumeration counters.
Political Reactions: Mixed Responses from Parties
The Election Commission’s announcement has triggered predictable political reverberations across the state’s spectrum.
Trinamool Congress (TMC): “Welcome Move, But We’ll Watch Closely”
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh stated, “We welcome a transparent revision, but we will ensure there is no bias. In 2021, names of thousands of genuine voters were removed arbitrarily. The Commission must maintain neutrality.”
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has reportedly instructed district TMC units to cooperate with officials but also to document any irregularities.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): “Finally, Action Against Fake Voters”
BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar hailed the ECI’s directive as “long overdue.”
“For years, fake voter entries have distorted Bengal’s democracy. This drive will expose the malpractice and restore faith in the electoral process,” he said.
Congress and Left Parties: “Ensure Inclusion, Not Exclusion”
The CPI(M) and Congress have warned against “selective deletions.” CPI(M) leader Mohammad Salim said the ECI must ensure that “the poor and migrant workers are not victimised under the pretext of verification.”
Political analysts observe that such statements foreshadow the contentious electoral climate leading to the 2026 polls.
Technology and Transparency: Digital Tools in Use
For the first time, Bengal’s SIR will integrate geotagging of polling stations and real-time monitoring through the ECI’s Garuda App, which allows BLOs to upload GPS-based field data instantly.
The state’s electoral database will also undergo de-duplication using AI-assisted algorithms that match biometric and demographic details to eliminate duplicates.
Additionally:
- QR-coded voter slips will replace older paper slips.
- Voters will receive real-time updates on roll status through SMS.
- Citizens can file grievances digitally via the cVIGIL app and ECI’s complaint portal.
“These digital reforms will make electoral rolls tamper-proof and citizen-friendly,” said Sandeep Saxena, ECI’s Senior Deputy Commissioner for IT Systems.
Social Awareness Drives Underway
The ECI has instructed Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer to initiate public awareness campaigns through radio, television, and social media to encourage voter verification.
The campaign slogan, “Check Your Name, Claim Your Right,” will be displayed on government buses, post offices, and schools across the state.
Community outreach will target women, tribals, tea garden workers, and trans persons — groups traditionally under-registered in voter lists.
To learn more, citizens can visit the National Voters’ Service Portal.
Administrative Accountability: Zero Tolerance on Lapses
The Commission has warned district officials of strict disciplinary action for any delay or irregularity. Each phase of revision will be audited, and weekly compliance reports must reach the ECI headquarters in New Delhi.
BLOs found negligent could face suspension or criminal prosecution under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act.
Observers note that such stern measures are rare but underscore the Commission’s seriousness in Bengal’s case, where trust deficits between institutions and parties run deep.
The Road Ahead: Setting the Stage for 2026
The final voter roll due in January 2026 will serve as the foundation for the next Assembly elections, likely to be held in mid-2026. Political parties are already strategizing based on anticipated demographic shifts — especially in urban clusters and border regions.
Analysts predict the revised rolls may slightly alter constituency profiles:
- Urban centres like Kolkata North, Salt Lake, and Howrah may see higher first-time voters.
- Rural belts in Birbhum and Purulia may witness marginal deletions due to migration.
- Border constituencies may face intense scrutiny over inclusion criteria.
The ECI’s emphasis on inclusivity, gender balance, and digital transparency could make Bengal’s 2026 polls among the most closely watched in India.
Conclusion: An Exercise Beyond Enumeration
While the Election Commission’s directive may appear as a routine bureaucratic schedule, its deeper implications stretch into the heart of Bengal’s democracy. The SIR is not just about cleaning data — it’s about restoring public faith in the vote.
In a state where politics seeps into every alley, and where electoral margins often define governance destiny, the integrity of the voter roll stands as the ultimate litmus test.
As BLOs begin their door-to-door trek across Bengal’s towns and hills, they carry more than registers — they carry the burden of trust.
How well they execute this task in the next 90 days will decide whether Bengal enters its next election with clarity or controversy.
For detailed schedules and public notices, citizens can visit the West Bengal CEO Office Portal.
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