Sat Feb 07 16:31:31 UTC 2026: ### Headline: West Bengal Electoral Roll Revision Faces Delay Amid Scrutiny

The Story:

The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal has requested a one-week extension from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to finalize the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The original deadline expired on February 7, 2026, with approximately 5% of hearings still pending. This extension request encompasses completing hearings, uploading documents, processing forms, and digitizing records. If approved, the publication of the final electoral rolls, initially scheduled for February 14, could be delayed until February 21.

The delay comes after a significant revision process that saw the deletion of approximately 58 lakh voters due to death, relocation, or being untraceable. Additionally, over 1.36 crore voters were initially flagged for “logical discrepancies,” although this number was later reduced to 94.49 lakh. The ECI has clarified that domicile certificates issued by specific West Bengal authorities will be accepted as valid proof of identity during the hearings.

Key Points:

  • The CEO of West Bengal sought a one-week extension from the ECI to complete the SIR of electoral rolls.
  • Approximately 5% of hearings were pending as of February 7, 2026.
  • The extension is needed to complete hearings, upload documents, process forms, and digitize records.
  • The initial deadline for publishing the final rolls was February 14, which may be pushed to February 21.
  • 58 lakh voters were deleted, and over 1.36 crore were initially flagged for discrepancies.
  • Domicile certificates from specific West Bengal authorities will be accepted as proof of identity.

Key Takeaways:

  • The electoral roll revision process in West Bengal is facing delays due to pending hearings and administrative tasks.
  • The scrutiny of voter rolls involves extensive verification to address discrepancies and ineligible voters.
  • The ECI’s decision on the extension request will directly impact the timeline for publishing the final electoral rolls.
  • The acceptance of domicile certificates aims to facilitate voter verification, but the specific authorities authorized to issue valid certificates introduces a layer of control.

    Read More

Related News: