Election Commission Orders Thorough Re-verification of Voter List in West Bengal

KalimNews, Kolkata, December 12, 2025: As the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in West Bengal moves towards its final stages, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has raised concerns over the unusually high number of voters identified through a process called progeny-mapping. With the enumeration phase now complete, the Election Commission has expressed skepticism about the accuracy of the voter list, especially with regard to the nearly 3.85 crore voters identified through progeny-mapping, far surpassing the number of voters identified through self-mapping.

According to the latest figures from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, the total number of voters identified through progeny-mapping stands at 3,84,85,166. In contrast, the number of voters identified through self-mapping is significantly lower, at 2,94,52,893. The self-mapping process involves verifying voters whose names appear in both the current voter list as of October 27, 2025, and in the 2002 list, which was the last time the SIR was conducted in the state. Progeny-mapping, on the other hand, involves identifying voters whose names do not appear in the current list but whose parents' names are recorded in the 2002 voter list.

Given the substantial discrepancy between the numbers, the Election Commission has instructed electoral officers in the state to recheck the details of voters identified through progeny-mapping before including their names in the draft voter list, which is due to be published on December 16, 2025. The ECI has also appointed special roll observers to oversee the re-verification process, ensuring that the data for these voters is accurate before their names are included in the final list.

Sources within the CEO's office have stated that the rechecking process will pay particular attention to voters whose age differences with their parents appear suspiciously low. Additionally, the electoral officers have been instructed to ensure that the photos provided by voters in their enumeration forms match those on the new photos submitted during the mapping exercise. This scrutiny is essential to ensure that the voter list is both accurate and trustworthy.

As the digitisation of the enumeration forms nears completion, the Election Commission has also mandated a random survey of the duly filled forms collected by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) across the state. This random sampling will help identify any significant flaws in the data for specific booths or areas. The survey will be conducted under the supervision of specially appointed observers tasked with reviewing the ongoing revision process. The Commission has further emphasised that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) must take primary responsibility for the execution of the mapping exercise, which has been described as a critical step in ensuring the integrity of the voter list.

The SIR process began on November 4, 2025, with the publication of the draft voter list scheduled for December 16, 2025. The final voters' list is set to be published on February 14, 2026, after the completion of all re-verification processes.

In addition to the scrutiny of progeny-mapping, the Election Commission has issued fresh instructions regarding the preparation of a separate list of deceased voters. Electoral officers have been directed to cross-reference the list of deceased voters identified during the digitisation of enumeration forms with the 2002 voter list. The ECI has specified three sources for the re-verification of deceased voter data: municipal records of deaths, death records from insurance companies and banks, and lists of beneficiaries under state government welfare schemes, particularly those associated with death benefits.

The SIR process aims to update and maintain the accuracy of voter rolls, removing duplicates, correcting errors, and ensuring that only eligible voters are included in the final list. The Election Commission's efforts to re-check and cross-verify data come after discrepancies were identified, particularly with the names of voters’ parents differing between the 2025 and 2002 lists. The ECI’s actions follow instances where such discrepancies were flagged during the enumeration form digitisation process.

The high number of voters flagged through progeny-mapping has drawn political attention, with various parties raising concerns about the integrity of the process. While the opposition has voiced suspicions about the accuracy of the voter list, claiming that such discrepancies could lead to the exclusion of legitimate voters, the Election Commission has pledged to uphold the transparency and fairness of the process.

The ECI is also mindful of the sensitivity surrounding the revisions, as any significant deletions or additions to the voter list could affect the outcome of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, scheduled for 2026. Once the draft list is published, there will be a period for objections, with hearings scheduled to resolve any disputes or concerns raised by political parties or voters.

The final list of voters, after all re-verifications and objections are addressed, will be published on February 14, 2026. Following this, the Election Commission is expected to announce the polling dates for the Assembly elections in the state. As the process continues, the political discourse around the revision exercise is likely to intensify, with parties keenly watching the impact of these changes on their voter bases.

With over 7.66 crore voters listed in the state as of October 27, 2025, the SIR process is one of the largest and most significant electoral revisions in West Bengal’s history. As the Election Commission finalises the voter rolls, it remains committed to ensuring that the list is comprehensive, accurate, and reflective of the state’s true electorate.