Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Election Commission has released a draft list of voters deleted from West Bengal’s electoral rolls following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), revealing that more than 58 lakh names have been removed ahead of the 2026 draft rolls, triggering political debate and public scrutiny.
Why the Voters Were Deleted
According to the Election Commission, voter names were removed on specific grounds such as death, permanent relocation, absence from registered addresses, or duplication across constituencies. The deleted list includes 24.17 lakh deceased voters, 19.88 lakh voters who have shifted permanently, 12.20 lakh missing voters, and 1.38 lakh duplicate or fake voters. These deletions stem from “uncollectable” enumeration forms during the SIR exercise.
Scale of the SIR Exercise
The SIR process began on November 4 after the EC announced the schedule on October 27, when West Bengal’s electorate stood at 7.66 crore. Enumeration forms were printed for all voters listed in the 2025 rolls and delivered door-to-door by Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Of these, over 58 lakh forms could not be collected, forming the basis for the draft deletion list.
Claims, Objections and Hearings
The second phase of the SIR, beginning after December 16, will allow aggrieved voters to file claims and objections. Individuals whose names appear in the deleted list can submit Form 6 along with declarations and supporting documents. The Election Commission has clarified that inclusion in the draft deleted list does not automatically mean final removal, and every flagged voter will be given a chance to be heard.
Discrepancies and Data Verification
EC-appointed special observer Subrata Gupta stated that more than 1.34 crore enumeration forms contain logical discrepancies, including abnormal age gaps between voters and parents, or incorrect parental details. Additionally, over 30 lakh voters could not be mapped with the 2002 electoral rolls, while around 85 lakh forms showed name mismatches with older records. Hearings and re-verification will be conducted to resolve these issues.
Further Scrutiny Ahead
Around 1.7 crore voters have been placed under varying levels of scrutiny, with BLOs tasked to re-verify details through fresh door-to-door checks after publication of the draft rolls. The Election Commission maintains that the objective of the SIR is to ensure a clean, accurate and credible electoral roll before finalisation.
