Residents of Kolkata are facing significant difficulties in completing their enumeration forms for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of West Bengal's electoral rolls, leading to widespread confusion and delays across the city.
Form Confusion Creates Panic Among Voters
Many Kolkata voters are struggling with or deliberately delaying the completion of their SIR forms due to confusion over form fields, relative names, and photograph specifications. According to reports, Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) are frequently unavailable to provide assistance, leaving residents to seek help from alternative sources.
Several voters have admitted to using correction fluid on their forms while remaining uncertain about whether this practice is permitted. The situation reached such a point that in Kasba on Saturday morning, large crowds gathered where booth-level agents (BLAs) - political appointees assisting BLOs - were helping residents with form filling.
One BLA observed the panic among residents, noting: "Many had made wrong entries and then erased them with whiteners. Others are requesting us to fill up the forms. We saw panic among people when they had not got the forms and were worried about losing their citizenship. Now, the panic is whether their names would be deleted from the voters' list if the form is not filled properly."
Poorly Designed Forms Compound Problems
The enumeration forms themselves have come under criticism for their confusing layout and unclear instructions. A top state government official who has been dealing with form issues for the past 10 days highlighted several design flaws.
The official explained the confusion surrounding relative names: "If my name is not on the 2002 list, I have to fill out the column on the right, which asks for the name of a relative on the list. If my parents are also not on the list, then who qualifies as a relative? The space is too small. If I get a photo clicked to fit, it may not reproduce well. A normal passport-size photo doesn't fit the box, and I'm unsure if it will be accepted. It is a poorly formatted form that lacks clarity."
This confusion has led to numerous errors, with many voters incorrectly filling columns meant for those already on the 2002 electoral list.
Practical Challenges in Form Collection
The problems extend beyond form filling to practical issues in the collection process. Several BLOs have reported that voters are asking them to return another day after posing numerous questions about proper form completion. Some cautious voters are completing photocopies first and showing them to BLOs for approval before filling out the actual forms.
A BLO from the Ballygunge Assembly constituency revealed: "The collection of forms is likely to take many more days than the distribution. I went with a target to collect forms, but most people were still asking questions."
Additional complications have emerged in housing complexes where multiple BLOs are assigned. Since each BLO, appointed by the Election Commission of India, manages one "part" - the smallest division of an Assembly constituency - residents in larger apartment buildings often receive conflicting information from different BLOs.
One resident noted: "The residents of our apartments belong to three parts of the Kasba Assembly constituency. Three BLOs have visited, but much of what they said does not match. It becomes confusing when I talk to neighbours from different parts."
The situation is further complicated by practical challenges such as long queues at photography studios and residents requesting BLOs to complete forms on their behalf. A BLO from Jadavpur Assembly constituency emphasized: "If we start filling everyone's forms, we cannot complete the process. We guide them, but we cannot fill forms for entire families."
Approximately 7.66 crore enumeration forms have been prepared for the West Bengal SIR 2025, with each voter receiving two copies: one to keep with a stamped acknowledgement and another for the Election Commission's records. These forms will ultimately be used to prepare the list of eligible voters for the West Bengal Assembly Election 2026.
