West Bengal's Voter Roll Cleanup: 66 Lakh Names to be Removed Ahead of Elections

In a significant move, the Election Commission of West Bengal is set to remove an additional eight lakh names from the voter rolls, bringing the total deletions to around 66 lakh. This cleanup is part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, aimed at ensuring accurate voter lists ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. With many names still under adjudication, the final figures may fluctuate. The commission has approved approximately 6.4 crore voters, but this number is expected to rise as the adjudication process concludes. Stay informed about the implications of these changes as the election schedule approaches.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 28, 2026, 15:37 IST

Significant Voter Deletions in West Bengal

Kolkata: The Election Commission (EC) is set to remove an additional eight lakh names from the voter rolls, adding to the previously reported 58 lakh deletions. This brings the total number of deletions in West Bengal to approximately 66 lakh, according to sources within the commission.

An official noted that the precise number of deletions will only be confirmed once the complete rolls are published online.

It is important to mention that the final figures may not reflect the actual deletions, as there will be new additions through Form 6 applications and further removals via Form 7 applications.

Currently, around 60.06 lakh names are marked as 'under adjudication' in the published rolls, indicating that these entries are being reviewed by judicial officers, who will decide on their inclusion or removal in future supplementary lists.

Officials from the EC have indicated that the total deletions in the final electoral rolls could increase significantly.

The commission has approved approximately 6.4 crore names as 'approved' voters statewide. This number is expected to rise further once the adjudication process for the 60 lakh voters is finalized and the last supplementary list is released.

The rolls were made available in offline mode in phases on Saturday afternoon, with hard copies displayed at SDO and BDO offices across the districts.

As of the latest updates, the soft copies of the consolidated list have not yet been uploaded to the designated EC websites or the ECINET mobile application.

Those voters who have been approved by the EC will be eligible to vote in the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal, with the schedule likely to be announced by the commission around mid-March.

The published list categorized 7.08 crore electors, all of whom were included in the draft rolls, as either 'approved', 'deleted', or 'under adjudication'.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal commenced on November 4 of the previous year, involving the distribution of enumeration forms to voters. The EC completed this provisional exercise in 116 days, publishing a final but incomplete list amid political challenges, changes in document verification rules, and legal disputes.

The draft rolls released on December 16 showed a decrease in the electorate from 7.66 crore to 7.08 crore, with over 58 lakh names removed due to reasons such as death, migration, duplication, or inability to trace.

The second phase of the process included hearings for 1.67 crore electors, with 1.36 crore flagged for 'logical discrepancies' and 31 lakh lacking proper mapping.

Approximately 60 lakh voters are still under adjudication due to 'logical discrepancies' in their enumeration forms.

The SIR, the first comprehensive statewide exercise since 2002, was initiated by the Election Commission as a necessary cleanup ahead of a significant election.