The Election Commission of India has extended a significant waiver to more than 41.5 lakh voters in West Bengal, absolving them from further scrutiny over minor inconsistencies found in their electoral registration records. This decisive action follows a meticulous re-verification process aimed at cleaning the state's voter list while ensuring legitimate citizens are not harassed.
Massive Scale of Discrepancies and the Path to Resolution
Initially, a staggering 1.3 crore voters in Bengal were flagged due to "logical discrepancies" in their Special Summary Revision (SIR) enumeration forms. These issues ranged from small age differences with parents or grandparents to gender mismatches. After a thorough review, this number has been substantially reduced to 94.5 lakh voters who will now receive official notices from the EC. The remaining over 41.5 lakh have been granted relief.
An EC official explained that mismatches were widespread, covering details from date of birth to fathers' names. In numerous instances, submitted documents did not align, prompting officials to conduct a fresh verification to protect voters from undue trouble. Most discrepancies were related to parents' names, often arising from voters omitting middle names like "Kumar" or "Lal" on forms, or using different spellings of their own names.
Re-verification Uncovers Genuine Errors and Fraudulent Entries
The re-verification drive revealed several layers of issues. Subrata Gupta, a special observer, stated that minor, understandable mismatches were waived, and summoned voters were given relief. The process also identified technical errors, such as mistakes made while uploading names via the Booth Level Officer (BLO) app. BLOs have been instructed to correct mistakes where the error was on their part.
However, more serious concerns were also uncovered. Discrepancies involving individuals listed as fathers of more than six children were identified. Shockingly, about 24 lakh people were found to be listed as parents without their knowledge. In border districts, cases of fake fathers' names were detected. An EC official highlighted that some Bangladeshi citizens who entered India had falsely claimed Indian citizens as their parents, which BLO verification exposed.
Age, Gender Mismatches and Migrant Voter Inclusion
The scrutiny also focused on age-related anomalies. Approximately 8.7 lakh cases involved parents with an age difference of over 50 years from the voter, while 3.2 lakh cases involved grandparents with an age gap of less than 40 years. Re-checking confirmed that some genuine voters do have such age differences, but a second round of verification continues for others.
A gender mismatch was reported for 13 lakh voters. While notices are to be issued in all mismatch cases, most sex-mismatch errors were deemed genuine mistakes. Consequently, most of these voters received a waiver from appearing at hearings, especially where the error originated from the EC's side.
In a separate but related finding, the SIR process helped identify over 20 lakh electors above 45 years who had not been enrolled earlier. Many, due to job-related migration, had been living away from their home constituencies and missed earlier enrollment opportunities. The mandatory SIR form submission has now brought these migrant voters into the electoral fold.
Conclusion: Balancing Vigilance and Voter Facilitation
The Election Commission's large-scale exercise demonstrates a dual focus: rigorously cleansing the electoral roll of fraudulent entries while adopting a compassionate approach towards minor, inadvertent errors made by common citizens. The relief granted to over 41.5 lakh voters underscores the EC's commitment to ensuring no genuine voter is disenfranchised due to technicalities. As the process moves forward, notices to the remaining 94.5 lakh voters aim to further refine the list, strengthening the integrity of the democratic process in West Bengal.
