West Bengal Elections: 1,468 Voter Names Reinstated Ahead of Polls

In a significant development ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, appellate tribunals have reinstated 1,468 names to the electoral rolls. This decision comes just before the second phase of voting, allowing these voters to participate. The process has been marked by numerous appeals and adjustments, with the Election Commission working to ensure that eligible voters can cast their ballots. As the election date approaches, clarity on the number of cases that can be processed remains uncertain, adding to the anticipation surrounding the polls.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 28, 2026, 16:08 IST

Voter Names Added Back to Electoral Rolls

On Tuesday, appellate tribunals in West Bengal reinstated 1,468 names to the electoral rolls as part of a special revision process, just one day before the second phase of the state Assembly elections, according to reports.

The tribunals indicated that six names could not be added to the voter lists. Of these, five individuals are Muslim, while one is a Hindu woman, as noted by the Kolkata-based Sabar Institute.

The reinstated voters are eligible to cast their ballots on Wednesday, as confirmed by an anonymous official from the Election Commission.

The official mentioned that the updated voter lists, detailing names added or removed, have been uploaded online. Copies will also be distributed to political parties, candidates, returning officers, and district election officers, with individual voters being notified through booth-level officers.

However, it remains unclear how many cases the tribunals will be able to address before polling begins for the second phase of the elections.

Previously, the Election Commission reported that the 19 appellate tribunals had received a total of 34 lakh applications, with seven lakh challenging the inclusion of names and 27 lakh from those who were excluded.

The second phase of voting will occur in 142 Assembly constituencies, following the first phase held on April 23, with vote counting scheduled for May 4.

Background on Voter Inclusion

Before the first phase of elections on April 23, the Election Commission had added 139 voter names based on accepted appeals, while eight names were removed.

On April 16, the Supreme Court instructed the Election Commission to publish a supplementary electoral roll in West Bengal to include voters whose appeals against deletions were accepted by the tribunals.

The court mandated that individuals whose appeals were approved before April 21 should be eligible to vote in the first phase, while those cleared by April 27 should be included in the final rolls for the second phase.

Details on the Appellate Tribunals

The Election Commission published the final electoral roll for West Bengal on February 28, revealing that over 61 lakh voters had been excluded. The process continued with around 60 lakh cases still pending adjudication due to objections regarding their exclusion from the draft rolls released in December.

Several supplementary lists were issued, incorporating additional voter names. The adjudication process concluded on April 6, allowing voters who were removed to appeal through the 19 designated tribunals.