EC orders strict scrutiny of documents in voter list revision hearings

UNI, Kolkata, Jan 22, 2026 :  The Election Commission on Thursday directed the special observers that documents of all voters summoned for hearings under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal must be examined thoroughly, with no room for negligence. The instructions were issued at a meeting with special observers here. 

The Commission has appointed 12 new special observers in the state this week, and the meeting focused on clearly outlining their responsibilities during the SIR hearing process. According to sources, the Commission has made it dear that even the records and documents of voters whose cases have already been disposed of by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) must not be excluded from scrutiny. The aim, officials said, is to ensure not a single ineligible voter remains in the final electoral roll. 

A senior Commision official said special observers were firmly briefed on the need for strict document verification. Using an analogy, the official remarked, One cannot judge how sweet something is just by looking at it, you have to taste it to know." 

The meeting also clarified the role of special observers during the SIR hearings. They will be assisted by micro-observers, and more observers may be appointed if required. However, the Commission stressed that documents of all voters must be checked in detail and that any lapse would not be tolerated. 

The SIR process has been underway since November 4 in 12 states and union Territories, including West Bengal. In the state, the draft electoral roll was published on December 16, following which the hearing phase began. In West Bengal, a total of 1,26,17,558 voters have been called for hearings. 

Of them, 31,68,426 were included in the "no-mapping" list—voters who could not establish any link with the 2002 electoral roll. Another 94,49,132 voters have been summoned due to data discrepancies. Election Commission sources said hearings of more than 30 lakh voters have already been completed. Around three lakh voters were heard across the state on Thursday, while 5.30 lakh voters were covered on Wednesday.