Bengal’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll is approaching a critical stage, with nearly 65-70 lakh voters potentially facing deletion from the voter list, raising concerns over electoral representation ahead of upcoming elections. The first phase of SIR, aimed at digitising and verifying 7.6 crore voter records, has nearly concluded, with 99.4 per cent of enumeration forms already digitized.
However, significant gaps remain. Around 28-30 lakh applicants could not be mapped to the 2002 voter list and will now have to attend in-person hearings if they wish to retain their voting rights. These hearings, to be conducted by Election Commission officials, are scheduled from December 16 to February 7, 2026. Voters must produce the 13 prescribed SIR documents approved for verification in Bengal.
Additionally, nearly 54.6 lakh voter names are currently deemed “uncollectible” due to reasons ranging from death, migration, untraceability, or duplication. This accounts for more than 7 per cent of the digitised forms, which will not be included in the draft SIR roll set to be published on December 16. Of these, 23.7 lakh have died, 19 lakh have shifted residences, 10.1 lakh are untraceable, and 1.2 lakh are duplicate entries.
A separate list will also highlight approximately 21,000 voters who received enumeration forms but failed to return them to block-level officials. While these names will not appear in the draft roll, the EC has clarified that affected voters can file fresh enrollment applications using Form 6 to challenge deletions.
“This phase of SIR is crucial to ensure an accurate, credible electoral roll,” said a senior Election Commission official. “Voters who remain unmapped or whose forms are uncollected have the right to be heard and can submit fresh applications, but strict deadlines must be adhered to.”
The draft SIR roll, reflecting all deletions and pending hearings, is scheduled for publication on December 16, ahead of the final roll to be released on February 14, 2026. Election experts warn that the massive number of potential deletions representing almost 10 per cent of Bengal’s electorate could have a profound impact on political mobilisation and voter representation in the state.
The SIR process, initiated to cleanse and update voter records, has so far digitised 99.4 per cent of forms, stating the Election Commission’s push toward transparent and technology-driven electoral management.
Comments