Over 58 lakh voters dropped from Bengal rolls ahead of 2026 polls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has deleted more than 58 lakh names from West Bengal’s electoral rolls following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), triggering sharp political attention ahead of Assembly elections scheduled early next year.

The deletions were disclosed on December 16, hours before the publication of the draft electoral rolls, with the ECI uploading details of voters who no longer figure in the 2026 draft list despite being included in the 2025 rolls. According to the Commission, the names were removed after individuals were found to be absent from their registered addresses, permanently shifted, deceased, or duplicated across constituencies, according to PTI.

The list of deleted voters has been made publicly accessible on the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal’s portal.

Draft rolls published after door-to-door verification

The draft electoral rolls mark the conclusion of the enumeration phase of the SIR in West Bengal, Rajasthan, Goa, Puducherry and Lakshadweep. The exercise involved door-to-door verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who prepared fresh rolls without relying on earlier voter lists — a move the ECI says was aimed at eliminating inaccuracies and ensuring a clean, fraud-free electoral database.

All recognised political parties have been provided hard copies of the draft rolls as part of the Commission’s transparency measures. The rolls have also been uploaded on the official websites of CEOs and District Electoral Officers (DEOs), allowing voters to verify their details online.

The online portals carry separate lists of voters flagged as absent, shifted, deceased or duplicated, enabling affected individuals to track their status.

How voters can check and restore their names

Voters in West Bengal can search the draft rolls using their EPIC number on the CEO’s website. Those whose names are missing can file claims through Form 6, along with a declaration form and supporting documents.

Claims and objections can be submitted between December 16, 2025 and January 15, 2026. Offline verification is also available through BLOs at polling stations, with Branch Level Agents assisting voters who are unable to make direct contact.

Revised SIR timelines across states

The Election Commission has extended SIR timelines in several states. Enumeration in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat has been extended till December 14, with draft rolls to be published on December 19. In Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, enumeration will conclude on December 18, followed by draft rolls on December 23. For Uttar Pradesh, enumeration ends on December 26 and draft rolls will be published on December 31.

In Kerala, enumeration has been extended till December 18, with draft rolls scheduled for December 23. The final electoral roll for the state will be released on February 21, 2026.

Political reactions surface

The large-scale deletions have sparked political reactions, with the BJP claiming the SIR exercise is being misunderstood. BJP MP Shashank Mani said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was “realising that SIR is about electoral reforms, not voter suppression,” and suggested the issue could strain opposition unity.

Omar Abdullah, however, maintained that political parties are free to choose their agendas, underscoring differing political readings of the revision exercise.

Final rolls due in February 2026

The ECI has emphasised that the draft rolls are not final and that the claims-and-objections process is a crucial safeguard. For West Bengal, Rajasthan, Goa, Puducherry and Lakshadweep, the final electoral rolls will be published on February 14, 2026.

The Commission says the SIR is designed to ensure that every eligible voter is included and only eligible voters remain on the rolls, reinforcing the integrity of the electoral process ahead of crucial Assembly elections.