EC Flags Parental Data Mismatches, Orders Progeny Mapping in Booths

Soumitra Nandi, MP, Dec 4, 2025,  KOLKATA: The Election Commission (EC) has instructed district election officers (DEOs) and electoral registration officers (EROs) to conduct progeny mapping at all polling booths after discovering discrepancies in parental data of voters listed in the 2025 electoral rolls. The issue came to light when certain voters appeared in the 2025 rolls but were absent from the 2002 rolls. These voters have linked themselves to voters from the 2002 rolls as their parents, but the parental details listed in the 2025 rolls do not match.

Poll panel sources indicated that mismatches have been identified in 30 parts across 30 Assembly constituencies. South 24-Parganas, in particular, has seen a high concentration of such cases. For instance, in Sandeshkhali’s part 168, 1,267 of the 1,447 electors have discrepancies. In Joynagar’s part 6, 1,199 out of 1,278 voters have been flagged for similar irregularities, and in Kultali’s part 85, 1,002 of 1,154 voters face the same issue.

Other constituencies where such data mismatches have been detected include Hingalganj (North 24 Parganas), Hemtabad (North Dinajpur), Dhupguri, Dabgram–Phulbari, Dinhata, Murarai, and Habibpur.

Election Commission officials suspect that some discrepancies may be accidental, possibly due to clerical errors, while others could be intentional, aiming to avoid scrutiny during voter verification. As a result, the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are now tasked with visiting the affected households and submitting reports to the Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) or EROs.

Special roll observer Subrata Gupta, who met DEOs, EROs, and other election officials in East Burdwan on Wednesday, instructed BLOs, supervisors, and EROs to conduct fresh household visits and system checks until the publication of the draft electoral rolls on December 16. He also highlighted that lists of deceased, untraceable, bogus, and shifted voters would be made available at the booth and ERO offices on the day of publication and shared with political parties for feedback.

According to an official in the CEO’s office, there will be ample opportunity for hearings and physical verification before the finalization of the rolls. Pre-special intensive revision (SIR) mapping shows that 2.4 crore voters are common to both the 2002 and 2025 rolls, and around 2 crore progeny voters will be able to establish legitimate links to 2002 entries through their parents.

Currently, more than 98.29 percent of enumeration forms—7,53,28,211 in total—have been digitized. The CEO office also reported that there are 29 booths with no "uncollectable" forms. Additionally, 2,208 booths have recorded 100 percent distribution, collection, and digitization of SIR forms. After the completion of this process, the CEO office requested signed reports from the EROs, countersigned by DEOs, by 10 am on Tuesday.

The process is set to continue, ensuring that voter lists are accurate and that discrepancies are rectified before the final electoral rolls are published.