The election machinery in West Bengal is set to embark on a crucial exercise to clean up the state's electoral rolls. The first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) will commence on December 27, 2025, targeting a massive pool of approximately 32 lakh (3.2 million) unmapped voters whose names currently lack proper geographical tagging in the database.
Phase 1 Focus: Addressing Unmapped Voter Entries
Authorities have confirmed that this initial round of hearings will specifically deal with voters who are on the list but are not mapped to any specific polling station or constituency. These are individuals whose records exist in the system but lack the logical geographical coordinates necessary for assigning them to a precise voting booth. The process will involve calling these individuals to appear before designated electoral officials to rectify their location data and ensure they are correctly linked to their residential area's polling station.
Subsequent Phase for Logical Discrepancies
Officials have outlined a phased approach to ensure a thorough revision. Voters whose records contain logical discrepancies will be taken up in the next phase of the SIR. Logical discrepancies refer to inconsistencies in voter information, such as mismatched age details, duplicate entries, or entries that defy demographic logic. For this subsequent phase, the state election authorities have sought specific guidelines from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to standardize the process and ensure uniformity in handling such complex cases.
Significance and Expected Impact
This large-scale Special Intensive Revision is a significant administrative drive aimed at enhancing the integrity and accuracy of West Bengal's voter list. By identifying and resolving issues related to unmapped voters and data inconsistencies, the Election Commission aims to create a more reliable and fraud-resistant electoral roll. The exercise is critical for ensuring that every legitimate voter is correctly enrolled and can exercise their franchise without hassle in future elections, while simultaneously weeding out any inaccuracies or illegitimate entries.
The success of this revision depends heavily on public participation, as the nearly 32 lakh affected voters need to respond to the calls for hearings. The state administration is expected to undertake extensive awareness campaigns to inform citizens about the dates and procedures for the SIR hearings to ensure a high turnout for the correction process.
